Inspiration Post ~ Stamp and Emboss Metal Embellishments

Hi everybody I hope my post today will encourage you to try something that is maybe a little different. I've been playing with my favourite recycled tomato paste tubes, to create some fun metal embellishments . If you can't get hold of one of these then don't worry, as small pieces of thin, pliable craft metal will also work. I  have two different looks for you, one is smart and somewhat sophisticated using thin copper sheet........

The other using a tomato paste tube is just pure crazy fun !

For both projects, I used Tim Holtz's Entomology set of stamps. This is how I got started.......

Firstly, I gathered together my supplies....

I then cut some pieces from the tomato paste tube, as well as some small rectangles of  thin copper sheet. As the tomato paste tubes are heavily printed on the outside, I lightly sanded some the paint away so that I would be able to see the stamped image more clearly.......

After placing the stamped metal onto a piece of grey board, I traced over the image using the small end of an embossing tool. This is how it looked on the reverse side.....

I didn't try to trace over all of the very small detail as it becomes quite difficult as the metal stretches. I continued to use the embossing tool refining the image until I was satisfied. I then used a small pair of scissors and cut around the shape. I then applied drops of alcohol inks to the surface, allowing the colours to mingle.....

I repeated this technique and made several other insect embellishments as well as a couple of leafy flourishes.....

I also embossed the copper sheet in the same way, but instead of adding alcohol ink, I heated it with a cook's blow torch and once it had cooled added some patinating fluid...

In order to show how these embellishments could be used, I created the two different  tags. The heart tag was simply constructed by covering an MDF heart with book paper. A touch of distress ink and a little stamping around the edges completed the base. I then added a circular MDF circle, which had been coloured with Inca Gold paste. I buffed the surface and then adhered the embossed moth, using Cosmic shimmer glue.....

The insect tag, was firstly stencilled with embossing paste, then coloured with  Deco Art Media paints. I also used, Deco Art Antiquing fluid,  and wiped it back, in order to create the cobble stone surface. The Insects were then adhered with Cosmic Shimmer glue.....

I really enjoyed making these little metal insects and can see lots of possibilities for using the same technique with different stamps, I think flowers and leaves would work very well. If you give it a try  I'm sure you'll have as much fun as I've had. Let me know as I'd love to see your results, better still, why not use it to rustle up a project for our current 'Industrial/Grungy' challenge. After all Cec did say she'd like to see some metal! x