Have you ever looked at your embossing folders and thought, “There’s got to be more I can do with these”? You’re in luck—because today I’m sharing 5 embossing folder techniques using embossing paste that will totally change how you think about texture in your cardmaking.

Plus… I’ve been getting a ton of questions lately about the difference between Altenew’s Shimmer Relief Paste and Lunar Paste, so I’m putting both to the test in each technique. You’ll be able to see the textures, shimmer, and effects side-by-side to help you decide which is right for your next project. Don’t miss the full tutorial on YouTube – https://youtu.be/cFE4woczxfg

5 Cards, 5 Techniques

In today’s video, I’m sharing five different card projects—each showcasing a different way to use embossing paste and folders together:

🖤 Card 1: This one uses Shimmer Relief paste inside the embossing folder to create a 3D image that can be used like ephemera on a card.

💚 Card 2: Lunar paste mixed together and put in Basic Plaid embossing folder, used the paste to create the sentiment as well. Perfect masculine card!

💙 Card 3: You’ll see how adding paste to paper before embossing gives a cool distressed vibe with tons of depth.

💛 Card 4: Here, I embossed my pastepanel first, then gently rubbed paste over the raised areas for a subtle shine effect. I layered pastes to create more interest.

💜 Card 5: This one’s a layered technique—stenciling with paste, letting it dry, then running it through a folder for next-level texture.

Throughout each demo, I’ll show how both Shimmer Relief Paste and Lunar Paste react and look with these techniques. Some shine more, some hold texture better—and depending on your project goals, one might work better than the other!

Whether you’re all about clean designs or diving into mixed media, these techniques are a great way to stretch your supplies.

👉 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/cFE4woczxfg

Happy crafting!

Nicki 💛