Embossing on paper requires a paper that is sturdy enough to withstand the embossing process as well as an embossing press, or a metal (usually brass) stamp that pushes itself into the paper.
In order to emboss a piece of paper, you need a stamp, ink, embossing powder, and a heat gun. The embossing powder is simply a colored plastic powder that melts with the application of heat into the shape of the stamped ink.
First, ink your stamp and press it onto the page. It is best to use an oil-based pigment ink because it takes longer to dry, which gives you more time to apply the powder.
The next step is to pour a little bit of the embossing powder over the still-wet image, and make sure it is evenly coated. Save the excess powder by pouring it off the page and back into the bottle. The heat gun is then used over the ink and powder to actually melt the powder and create a colorful raised image.
Both the embossing powder and the ink come in many different colors, and any craft or scrapbooking store that sells the supplies can help you pick out the color that is perfect for your invitation.
You also might want to try mixing the ink and powder colors to create your own. Some water-based inks are mixable with eachother, but you have to work quickly because they dry faster than oil-based inks.
Dry embossing kits are another option, but the process is more tedious. It involves hand-pushing the image for each invitation. Kits are available at most craft stores. Fiskars makes a great kit for about $25. The kit includes a template, a surface to lay it on and an embossing tool. You lock the template over your page, and then carefully press the provided embossing tool into the paper using the template as a guide. You can then even use pastel chalks to color the raised paper, but the end result, while nice, is more crafty-looking, and less professional.
