FREE Tutorial! How to Emboss metal for Art Journal pages, Altered Books, cards, scrapbooks! Complete steps!

Howdy and Welcome!

I'm back after a brief minor illness. Also, been working on pages in my art journals, scrapbooking and taking care of other areas of life.

This is a free tutorial. (UPDATE: Don't forget to check out the other FREE TUTORIALS and FREEBIES here on my blog!)

Embossed metal flags

These embossed and painted metal 'flags' are fun and relatively easy to make. They look fabulous on art journal pages, junk journals, altered book pages, greeting cards, BuJos (bullet journals), smash books, glue books, flo-jos (flow-ish journals), and in scrapbooks. This is not a new technique - just my way of doing it.

The embossed texture is so gorgeous - 
I almost don't want to paint it...

This metal repair tape is not archival, so if you want to use them in your acid-free archival scrapbooks, my suggestion is to seal them with an archival medium - like Golden soft gel medium gloss or Liquitex matte medium.

SUPPLY LIST:

• apron
• Big Shot [or other die cut machine] with embossing platforms
• bone folder [or similar burnishing tool]
• decorative scissors [or junky pinking shears dedicated to crafts (not your good pinking shears used for sewing)]
• dust mask [to protect your lungs when sanding the paint]
• 'Dust Buddy' [or damp paper towels]
• embossing folders and texture plates (Cuttlebug, Sizzix, etc.)
• latex gloves (optional) 
• medium (optional) - Golden soft gel gloss medium or Liquitex matte medium
• metal [aluminum repair tape (comes on a roll, from hardware store)] - this flexible, thin tape is adhesive backed and comes with protective wax paper on the back
• old table cloth [or large craft sheet or something to protect your work surface]
• old mouse pad (cut to fit)  [or flexible pad included with your die cut machine]
• page protectors (optional)
• paints (I got best results using Ranger's Adirondack acrylic paint dabbers which are opaque) or acrylic paints and 1.5" paint brush 
• removable tape (one-sided) - optional, for use with Big Shot
• ruler
• sanding block (from hardware store) [or Tim Holtz's]
• scissors
• various storage containers
• wax paper

PROJECT DURATION:

Several days, if done in 'batches'.

TESTING / MODIFICATIONS:

Test first: you can make a 'prototype' to test this process in just one day, by slightly modifying each step to just use 1 or 2 strips of metal. 

STEP 1 / DAY 1 - CUT:

Cut 5"-6" lengths from roll of aluminum repair tape using scissors. [Cut whole roll. This is a good   project to do while watching TV or a movie.] Store cut tapes until ready for next step.

Mine are stored in an old VHS tape box. Pencil boxes from Target or office supply store would also work. Or just rubber band them together. I store mine in a reused empty VHS box, because I take my projects on crops and when I travel.

Cut strips from metal repair tape - ready to store

Strips stored in old VHS tape box -
a perfect fit!

STEP 2 / DAY 2 - TAPE: 

(optional - works with large Big Shot platforms and the larger texture plates)

Tape three metal strips together using removable tape. Tape together in two places - about 1 inch from top and 1 inch from bottom of metal strips. The purpose of this tape is to keep the metal strips stable while embossing, and also while painting. You could skip this step and emboss and paint the metal strips one-by-one, but it would take forever! Removable tape is required so it can be easily removed later.

Repeat for all remaining strips. 

Store taped strips. I store mine interleaved between sheets of wax paper. One sheet of wax paper is used for each 'three-pack' - that is, one sheet of wax paper for each three strips taped together.



STEP 3 / DAY 3 - DRY EMBOSS:

Emboss a 'three-pack' using an embossing folders or texture plates. You might have to create a two-pack or use a single strip if the 'three-pack' is too wide in the embossing folders. Experiment. 

Repeat for all remaining three-packs. Store embossed three-packs.

Various embossing/texture plates and embossing folder

Metal Strip and Embossing folder

Metal Strip inside Embossing folder

Strip inside embossing folder -
ready to run through die cut machine

Embossed metal strips - yummy texture!

The embossed texture is so gorgeous -
I almost don't want to paint it...

Embossed metal strips stored in
 re-purposed plastic packaging -
ready to be painted  in next step

 STEP 4 / DAY 4 - PAINT:

Put on your apron, gloves, and protective covering on your work surface. 

Using 2-3 different color paints (analogous colors that touch on color wheel, or different tints of analogous colors, or your fave colors), quickly paint a three-pack using long broad strokes of the dabber or your brush. I usually paint my strokes diagonally.

Set aside to dry overnight.

Repeat for all remaining three-packs. Store painted three-packs.

Note: the painting / drying step may take a few days.

Important: paint must be completely dry before the next step, sanding.

Dried painted  embossed metal strips -
ready for next step: sanding

STEP 5 / DAY 5 - SAND:
 

Put on your dust mask. 

With your sanding block, gently sand a three-pack. Then wipe off dust using a 'dust buddy' or slightly damp paper towel. The goal is to sand off a little of the paint that's on the raised edges of the embossed metal.

 
Repeat for all remaining three-packs. 

Store sanded three-packs by color family. That is, store cool color strips together. Store warm color strips together. I use a rubber band or large clip. Fyi, when the painted strips are stored by color family, it makes it easier to apply strips to your pages based on color.

Sanding block and 'Dust Buddy'

STEP 6 / DAY 6 - REMOVE TAPE:

Pull off the removable tape from the back of the thee-pack. You now have single strips.

Repeat for all remaining three-packs. 

Left side has tape on back -
you can just barely see the tape.
Right side is an embossed and painted three-strip

Store single strips by color family. That is, store cool color strips together. Store warm color strips together. I use a rubber band or large clip. Fyi, when the painted strips are stored by color family, it makes it easier to apply strips to your pages, cards and altered books based on color.

Painted strips - sorted by color family,

clipped together and ready to cut in next step

STEP 7 / DAY 7 - CUT FLAGS:

Cut each strip diagonally from corner to corner using the pinking shears or a decorative scissor. I like to use the torn paper decorative scissor or pinking shears for this step.

Repeat for all remaining single strips. 

Store cut 'flags' by color family until ready to use on your AJ, altered book, BuJo, Flo-jo, cards, junk journal, ATCs, or scrapbook page, etc..

Finished Cut flags -
ready for cards, altered books, art  journals, and
scrapbook pages
(Important Note: seal first with a medium for archival scrapbooks)

STEP 8 / DAY 8 - ADHERE FLAGS:

When ready to use flag, remove backing and carefully place flag in or near corner of your page. This adhesive is very sticky so don't press into place into it is in the desired position. When in desired position, press gently to adhere. Try not to smash the embossing. Burnish edges only with bone folder or similar tool.

Sit back and enjoy your artwork!

c mlh1 - M L Haynes 2010

SEND YOUR RESULTS!

If you try this free tutorial, please post your results on YOUR blog and then send me a link to that post via my Contact form. I'd love to see your work based on this tutorial!

Thanks for visiting - please follow me - and stop by again soon!

Peace,

LuLu

www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/

P.S. My 1 year Blog-oversary is rapidly approaching!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!! Stay tuned for my first Giveaway!