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Copper Metal Embossing

Mary Shoebridge
Crafty Cruisers
Intermediate Team Designer

Supplies
Autumn Harvest Stamp Set (TAC)
Chestnut Colorbox Pigment Ink Pad (Clearsnap) 
Copper Metal Sheeting; light or medium weight (JoAnn’s Fabrics)
Rust Cardstock (Kelly Paper)
Black Cardstock (Kelly Paper)
Green Mulberry Paper
Fibers
Pearl Ex Water Color Palette (Jacquard)
Clear nail polish
Paper towels
Marvy Metallic Marker
Lumiere Blue-Green acrylic paint optional (Jacquard)
Bone folder (TAC)
Ball Tip or regular stylus (You may substitute a cuticle stick)
Heat Tool (Milwaukee ~ TAC)
Foam Mounting Tape (3M)
Glue Stick (Uhu stic)
Fine tip and regular scissors (Fiskars)
Decorative Deckle Edge scissor (Fiskars)
#2 Round Paint Brush (Princeton Art and Brush Company)

Instructions:

1. Use your choice of either pigment or dye ink. Ink up the Horn of Plenty image with the Chestnut Colorbox Pigment color pad and stamp onto the metal sheeting.  Allow to dry.  Note:  If you use permanent ink, it will dry as you work and trace the design.  The permanent ink will dry instantly and be a part of the finished art work.
2. Trace the stamped image with the stylus or cuticle stick gently, since the copper is thin.  If you have used pigment ink and it still shows, wipe off the excess ink or speed dry with the heat gun.  Applying heat to the copper sheeting might change its color.  I prefer to let it air dry as I work on the metal.
3. Make a cushion from the paper towels.
4. When the tracing is finished, turn it over onto the paper towel cushion and push into it with the stylus until you have completed the whole image.  You can use the stylus to add dots and swirls around it.  Repeat this process until the leaf is raised up.
5. Turn the image over.  Either trim around it with fine tip scissors or make a copper panel like in the sample card.  Touch up with the metallic markers or paint.  This tip is optional if you would like more color.  If you want to keep the copper shiny then you can brush on some clear nail lacquer which will act a protective coating.
6. Cut the Black cardstock with the decorative deckle scissors 5” by 4”. 
7. Using the Water color Palette with the paint brush, swirl colors randomly around on the paper and allow to dry.
8. Cut and fold a half sheet of Rust cardstock (8 1/2” by 11”) to card size 5 1/2” by 4 1/4” with the bone folder.
9. Attach the dry Black Background paper using MonoAdhesive.
10. Layer on the green mulberry paper at an angle using MonoAdhesive.
11. Add the copper embossed metal with the foam mounting tape.
12. Attach the fibers with the glue stick.

Tips:
Other images work well too, such as leaves which are beautiful.
Black, brown, dark green or blue work well.
This technique works well with either Dye or Pigment Ink Pads.

If you would like to print this technique including a near-full size image of the layout, click here.  Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

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