Friday, May 28, 2010

A Metal Embossing Tutorial--My Way

I don't know if there is a right way to emboss metal, but this is the way that I emboss metal.  And let me tell you, it's SOOO easy, and you probably have most  everything you need for it already, including the metal. The picture inside of the frame is all embossed metal--



I've shown metal embossing before, but it's been a while, so I decided to show you with a little more detail on how I go about doing it.  I use the aluminum  metal foil (36 gauge) that I get at Dick Blick, but  you can also use the aluminun pie tins or any aluminum tray that you can get at the grocery store.  You can  just wash the ones that you bought  that had food in them--they're just as good.  And I've purchased a few embossing tools, but the one I always go back to is either the other end of a paint brush or a dull sharpened pencil.  The metal usually rips for me when I use a stylus.  The foil is pretty durable, but you do have to be careful, and it can be cut with regular household scissors.  After I sketch my design lightly with a pencil, I start embossing (you can emboss on either side)--


I knew that I wanted a rooster, heart, and sun on this, so I sketched it on. After that I just doodled with my paint brush tip or whatever my choice of embossing tool that I'm using at the time.  You don't even have to sketch anything on--you can make a zentangle--or just emboss whatever comes to mind.
After that, I always put some alcohol inks on it first and when the inks are dry, I apply a black craft acrylic paint quickly, and then wipe if back off again.  Just don't wipe too hard, because you'll get right back down to the metal.


Then when that's all dry, I just paint in my design with acrylics, but I recommend the artist's acrylics, because they're much more vibrant.  The craft paints are too thin and it's hard to cover the metal.  So when all of the paint is dry, I always spray a couple of coats of a workable fixative on it--the paint will come off if you don't.  And then when the fixative is dry, I put a gloss varnish on it, so it has a nice shiny look to it.


It's very hard to get a good photo of the finished piece--it's much better in real life.  So the frame--well a couple of  months ago, I went to the wholesale show in Columbus, Ohio, and I showed everyone these barnwood frames that I purchased there--




These frames had glass inserts in them.  So I kept the glass in it, and just adhered the metal piece with extra heavy gel medium right on the glass--it always works!  And I hadn't cut the metal just right to fit inside the frame, so I camouflaged the side with textured wallpaper--





I hope I covered everything, but if you have any questions--just ask.  So next time you bring one of those trays home from the grocery store, don't throw it out--try this--it's fun.

And here's some  more rooster love--


FUN!

I also wanted to show you what I treated myself too.  When I saw these earrings on Sharon's blog


I knew that I had to have them--these are me, and I just got them yesterday (very quick service!) I love them Sharon--these particular earrings were published in the magazine Bead Trends, but this isn't the first time that she's been published.  Go check out her blog--she's also a very talented mixed media artist.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday weekend here in the U.S.--I know I will--the weather is looking beautiful!!!

30 comments:

Janie Husband said...

wow....this is amazing....probably my favorite rooster...it is beautiful.. ;)

Theresa MacNaughton said...

This is AMAZING!!! Thank you for your tutorial - you make it look remarkably easy. :) Have a wonderful weekend! Theresa

Mojca said...

Diane, your blog is impressive, your wonderful creation - uau!

Rebecca Anthony said...

This is wonderful Diane! There is so much texture, color and amazing detail.

Terri Kahrs said...

Your tutorial is fabulous and so are the results! Ohhhh! I admired your new earrings a bit ago on Sharon's blog. They're stunning and I'm sure you'll get a LOT of compliments!!! Hugs & Happy Weekend! Terri xoxo

Christianne Teixeira said...

great tutorial, thank you so much for sharing. Thank you for your nice comment on my blog, I really appreciated. Hugs, Chris :))

Debby said...

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing with us, this is totally amazing. I adore your new earrings, beautiful.
debby

Linda Vincent said...

Great tutorial Diane - lovely artwork and fabulous earrings. I would have chosen those too.....

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I tried to leave a comment earlier, and couldn't. Hope this one goes through. I really like this tutorial. I may look for some of this craft foil this weekend when I go to JoAnns. Your tips are wonderful. I have trouble with the purchased styluses, too. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. The final pieces are incredible. They have such bold and bright colors.

Kim Palmer said...

Aren't these fun pieces! Love the texture of the embossed metal. Great tutorial Diane!

Janet Ghio said...

What a great little tutorial!!

Debbie said...

I really want to try this! Your tutorial makes it sound so simple. Thanks for sharing and love the roosters!

Emelie said...

Very good instructions and I understand them perfectly. Great pieces, Roosters and chickens I saw them at an art and garden art show today, not as pretty as yours but a different style and really creative also. Also did some garage sales and thought of you as there were a lot of little furnitures at the sales today.

You are moving with great speed and production that is beautiful.

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Very Cool Diane ~ Thanks for showing us how you did it! Blessings to you! ~ Katie

Buffy said...

Thanks for the tutorial,it looks easy but I don't know if I can sketch a rooster,that looks like the hard part. I love all of them but my favorite is the one with the text behind it. I think I have a thing for text.LOL. Have a great weekend.

Dianne said...

LOVE Button Town! Love your roosters! Just caught up on your posts of amazing artwork... Have a great weekend!

Beth said...

This is great information. Thank you for showing us how. You are an amazing artist and so generous. I am also interested in how you layout your blog. I have not had much luck in posting this quantity of photos. Any thoughts? Thank you again.

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

now that's what i call a labor of love...absolutely beautiful work and so generous for all the details. i'm lovin' your roosters!

Lindy Gaskill said...

Great to find your blog. Wonderful art! Very inspiring. Thanks for commenting on my blog too.

jonny said...

Hi Dianne- I love your roosters!!! they came out nice that embossing is neat it looks like a lot of fun. I cant wait to try it one day in the meantime I did buy a piece of thick metal to try and paint something on thanks for the heads up on the workable fixative. Sincerely, Jonny

Unknown said...

That looks like so much fun. I just love your paintings; they make me happy just looking at them:)

Kelly Berkey said...

Alright lady, that doesn't LOOK easy! So beautiful though!! You are uber talented and I LOVE the earrings. Super cool. I will hop over and check out her blog.
Hugs and love,
Kelly

Unknown said...

Ok, now I wanna try this. Thanks for sharing Diane, it's beautiful!

♥Jenny

WrightStuff said...

Love your pieces. You create real roosters - I am almost hear them cock-a-doodle-dooing!!

Unknown said...

hi Diane... You are my inspiration! I just looove your metal roosters and you are so generous to show how to do it! thank you for visiting me ! :D

Marlynn said...

I am crowing with delight looking enjoying your rooster creation. However, I have to admit it - You are so beyond me in some techniques, that I will just seat back and enjoy watching you do the process! *wink*

Cindy Belseth said...

This is great! I can't wait to try it! Thanks for posting this great tutorial!

Kathy Keith said...

I did a search on aluminum foil embossing tutorial and found you. Wonderful work! I am wondering how important it is to use the alcohol inks and the fixative. Wondering if just some final coats of varnish would be enough to hold it all together....
Kathy in TX
(dentzl@aol.com if you want to answer me directly)

J said...

Hi, this is absolutely fab!!

Could you explain more about fixing the metal to the glass - do you just use a bit of medium around the edges or all over?

Such a striking effect

unknown said...

Nice post and this looks good. If the metal is durable then it's easy to do embossing. I like this way of embossing. We offer different embossing die sets. To get more details contact us.

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