An example of why the embossing buddy is important

So, I've finally finalized my cardfront for the holiday swap that I am participating in. Here is the card.

This gives you a sneak peek of some of the new items that will be coming out in the holiday mini. I don't know how Stampin' Up! keeps bringing out new mini catalogues with so many new, beautiful things. (check out the new big shot snowflake and the glimmer brad!).

As I was making my 21 cards for the swap, I became even more aware of how essential the embossing buddy is when doing heat embossing. It's a small but essential step to rub the embossing buddy over your paper before stamping and pouring embossing powder. Check out the difference in the "clean-ness" (sorry, I know it's not a word...) of the final silver embossed image. See the sample below without embossing buddy...
And here below is with the embossing buddy.

Yes. I am a fast learner when my mistakes have consequences. Out of the 21 cards, I forgot the embossing buddy only once.