Embossing on metal is another of Carol Duvall's current favorites and this time the projects were all for Christmas, ranging from the embossed metal cut-outs used on cards and gift packages, to items on the tree.
Materials
tooling metal
magazine
ballpoint pen
scissors
optional: old credit card for smoothing out creases in metal
General Directions Cut a piece of the metal slightly larger than is needed for project. Place metal on top of magazine and draw design. If you do not feel your artistic talents are up to drawing original art, you can trace a pattern from gift-wrapping paper, a magazine or a rubber-stamped image.
If you will be using any letters or images that cannot be reversed, write or draw on a piece of paper using a permanent ink pen so the ink will bleed through the paper. Then place the pattern on metal and trace it. Because you will use the underside of the metal, the reversed images will now be right side up.
Cut out the image and use it as decoration on a card or a package, or hang it on a hanger and use it for a tree ornament. Large ornament images, like those produced by Carol on the show, may be used in any of these three ways.
Added interest can be given by coloring in portions of the design with metallic pens or colored permanent ink pens.
Believe-it-or-not, aluminum cookie sheets from the grocery store can be used in lieu of the tooling metal. The metal is not as sturdy but will suffice for use on cards and packages. For practice, you can also use a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Entire packages can be wrapped with aluminum foil if you emboss the foil before wrapping.
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