A very useful tool to have in our kit is a Heat Gun. Even though it is not the most basic tool, it is very useful when making more advanced techniques. Now that we have launched our own Heat Gun, let's see everything you can do with it.
A heat gun is a tool for applying hot air to projects. The interesting thing is that it expels heat without blowing a lot of air, which is essential when it comes to crafting, as it ensures that no paper will fly away or the still-fresh paint will move and destroy the design.
We've designed our Heat Gun in, unsurprisingly, a beautiful turquoise colour. It has a metal stand to support it on your working surface and work comfortably with it. It has two intensity positions, so you can adjust it to your needs.
How to use the Heat Gun
Simply plug the machine in (it has a C-type plug) and press either of the two intensity positions it has. Wait a few seconds until you notice the air it expels is hot, and then it's ready to use! You have to apply heat at a distance of about 4 or 5 centimetres from the project and do not linger too long in the same area, ideally moving the gun over the entire surface. In this way, you will avoid burning your project.
Uses of the heat gun
ā Hot Embossing
It is very likely that you already know all the secrets of this technique, but if you don't, you can take a look at this video:
You can also take a look at our blog where you can read our post "Techniques and tips for embossing". Anyway, let's make a brief summary of the steps to follow:
1.Ā Apply embossing ink to your stamp and stamp it.
2. Add the embossing powder of your choice.
3. And this is where your Heat Gun comes into play, as it's time to plug it in and let it do its magic. Apply heat (remember to stay about 4 or 5 centimetres away from your project) and you'll see how the design starts to shine.
4. When the entire design has shine, you'll know your design is ready.
ā Drying paints
A heat gun can also be very useful when working with materials that require waiting for them to dry. We are talking, for example, about watercolours, alcohol inks, and other types of paints. Once you have finished painting your designs, grab your heat gun and apply it over the surface, so you don't have to wait for it to dry.
For alcohol inks it works as another element, as it can help you to form designs, and prevent the paint from spreading, in short, it helps you to handle the pigment better and thus achieve the desired design.
ā Heat Gun, Other uses
As we have said many times before, the best thing about scrapbooking and crafting is to experiment, and that's why all the tools have many different uses. The Heat Gun can also be used to work with magic plastic or to thermoform EVA rubber.
We have already told you what we use the Heat Gun for, but we are sure that more than one of you can think of other uses, can you tell us about them in the comments?
