Thursday, 9 August 2018

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





10 comments:

  1. Ditto. thank you so much for the detail of how to do this. Just need to go and cook something first.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful inspiration and fun techniques. Thank you for the step by step. Wonderful and creative projects...Thank you x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome idea to recycle and create embellishments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a wonderful tutorial and really fabulous results Toni! xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a great idea for upcycling and what wonderful results I love your insects they look amazing. Thanks so much for the tutorial and for sharing these lovely bugs. x Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous. Buying tomato paste in a tube is the only way to go so you don't waste any but I would never have thought the tube itself could be used too. Thanks for sharing this fun way to create great embellishments.

    ReplyDelete
  7. these are absolutely brilliant! Wow - love these xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post and I like these designs. From unused materials you made metal stamps. Amazing

    ReplyDelete