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    Mad About Metal: More Than 50 Embossed Craft Projects for Your Home
    Mad About Metal: More Than 50 Embossed Craft Projects for Your Home
    Mad About Metal: More Than 50 Embossed Craft Projects for Your Home
    Ebook293 pages1 hour

    Mad About Metal: More Than 50 Embossed Craft Projects for Your Home

    By Monica Fischer and Susan Cumpsty

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    About this ebook

    Craft metal has endless decorative possibilities. It is pliable and can be wrapped around or adhered to any surface you can imagine. This book is all about using colored craft metal? decorating it by means of embossing, cutting out designs, adding further color, taking away color and filling in 3D designs, and much more?to customize found objects for your home.

    You will learn more about the metal and supporting mediums, as well as how to use the tools and familiarize yourself with several techniques?all of which can be applied in making more than fifty decorative and functional items provided in this book. The original projects were designed and created specifically to showcase a variety of techniques and applications, including:

  • Transferring and tracing designs
  • Creating texture by means of inexpensive handheld tools or manual processes
  • Using an embossing machine such as the cuttlebug? for textures, patterns and die-cuts
  • Finishing techniques such as sanding, ageing and painting
  • Upcycling and repurposing
  • Tips and tricks to simplify processes

    The projects range from beginner to advanced levels and from quick ideas to masterpieces that will take longer to complete. Magnificent photographs of the finished objects will inspire you while step-by-step instructions and photographs will help you to get started right away.
    • LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkyhorse
    Release dateMar 6, 2018
    ISBN9781510730205
    Mad About Metal: More Than 50 Embossed Craft Projects for Your Home

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      Book preview

      Mad About Metal - Monica Fischer

      INTRODUCTION

      Writing this book was a first for all of us, and what a great adventure it has been!

      Although we decided to take on the challenge as a team, it has been a solitary experience at times; each of us designing and developing new ideas and projects, working alone in our separate studios, in different parts of the city. Often, cellphone messages and photographs were the way we kept in touch and updated each other on progress. Strangely, these messages always seemed to be sent and received at exactly the moment when inspiration and motivation were most needed.

      A shared passion for working with metal and textures—helped along by dedication, understanding and enthusiasm—made it possible for us to work together, and for this we are grateful to one another. Although there were some stressful days, for the most part, this was a fun experience.

      Color makes life beautiful! We’ve always been enthralled by craft metal, and the endless possibilities it provides to create texture and color capable of brightening up the dullest day. As crafters and teachers we’ve experimented with a wide variety of craft mediums, but we were always drawn back to metal craft. The ability to transform a flat piece of metal into a multi-dimensional end product is truly the finest creative experience anyone can have.

      The art of metal embossing (or repoussé) has been around for centuries and has traditionally been associated with metals such as pewter and copper. We aim to break the boundaries of traditional embossing work with a colorful and modern new approach that will inspire young and old to be creative and try new ideas.

      In this book we will show you how to create lovely embossed pieces by combining craft metal with texture and color. The projects have been designed and created specifically to demonstrate a variety of techniques. They vary from easy projects that can be made in very little time, using inexpensive hand-held tools, to more advanced items that require a bit more skill and the use of a variety of tools and accessories that are readily available and complement craft metal perfectly. Throughout Mad About Metal you will find expert tips and additional ideas to help you along your way.

      We hope our book will inspire you to become creative using craft metal, even if you haven’t tried any craft mediums before. As you learn to master the skills you could well become passionate about metal craft and the creative experience of taking a blank piece of colored metal and turning it into your own uniquely beautiful creation.

      Please Note: The instructions and materials, i.e. Creaticca texture plates, Supawood, etc., are merely recommendations. However, you may be able to find other items to substitute.

      Please use caution and care when handling craft metal and working on these projects, as the materials or tools may contain sharp edges. Read all safety instructions for tools and/or machinery before operating.

      HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

      It would be worth your while to spend some time reading through and familiarizing yourself with the content of the chapters on craft metal, tools and materials, textures and embossing techniques as well as coloring techniques. Doing so will give you a solid base for becoming creative with craft metal.

      Start off by tackling some of the easier projects. The first few projects were designed to familiarize you with basic techniques such as cutting, embossing, sanding and glueing.

      You only learn through experience and from making mistakes. Don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t work out as planned on the first attempt. There have been times when we’ve had to repeat a project two or three times before getting it right; in fact, some projects didn’t even make it to the book—but trial and error is, after all, how you become a master of your craft.

      The projects in this book are merely suggestions and examples of what can be achieved. It is important to have fun and at the same time to give your own creative ideas the scope to change them to suit your own style and taste.

      As you embark on your metal-crafting journey, remember our motto: If you can move it, you can metal it. Go metalistic—go mad about metal.

      CRAFT METAL

      Craft metal sheets are made from real metal and are coated with a specialized durable colored layer on one side (front) and brilliant silver on the other (back). They are easy to emboss by hand or using an embossing machine and are also malleable, which allows you to achieve intricate detail and shapes. Craft metal is lead free and extremely versatile. It is also affordable. Because no harsh chemicals are used when decorating and ageing the metal, it is both user friendly and easy to use.

      The sheets are several times thicker than household foil, which makes them perfect for long-lasting creations. There is no right or wrong way of embossing the metal; it all depends on the effect you want to achieve and the application you are going to use.

      Craft metals usually come in light and medium weights. Light-weight sheets can be used for greeting cards, ornaments, fine art, jewelry, scrapbooking, gift tags and on paper. Medium-weight sheets work well on gift boxes, wood, plastic, frames, glass, books and furniture.

      The metals can be used on a wide variety of surfaces. The most basic decorating techniques are hand or machine embossing. Machine embossing is a relatively new technique for working with craft metal but it is much more effective and less time-consuming than hand-embossing methods. Craft metal can also be debossed, wrapped, crumpled and stenciled.

      It can be used with texture plates, embossing folders, stencils, wooden and card cut-outs, metal stamps, die cuts, pewter tools, to name just a few. Items can be sanded, cut into any shape, punched, antiqued, inked, bent, rolled, stamped, colored and distressed, among others.

      Never soak any craft metal pieces in water; simply wipe off the dust and dirt with a cloth that has been dipped in warm soapy water and then wipe them dry.

      SUPPORTING MEDIUMS

      Craft metal is a soft and flexible medium, so it needs a supporting medium to give it structure. The decorative possibilities are almost endless, and not simply limited to blanks (supporting mediums) you can find in arts and crafts outlets. Home and décor stores, party and toy shops—even your local grocery or hardware shop—could be great sources for items you can embellish with metal.

      The following are the most common and basic supporting mediums (blanks) used as a base for decorating with craft metal:

         Supawood cut-outs (words, shapes, etc)

         Objects made from Supawood (boxes, trays, picture/box frames, mirrors, furniture, etc)

         Tins (new or recycled)

         Glass objects (bottles, plates, glasses, mirrors and so on)

         Paper products (cut-outs such as words and shapes, cardboard, books and journals)

         Canvas (stretched or blocked)

         Perspex and plastics (under-plates, containers for cosmetics, old CDs)

         Metal (light switches, jewelry pieces)

         Non-reflective PVC (400 micron) is available from craft stores and sold per meter (from a roll). This is used to cut your own templates for designs such as those used for the airplane project (Fly Mango or Steampunk, page 96)

         Magnets (keyrings and fridge magnets)

         Clay and concrete products (garden décor, vases and mixed media projects)

         Wax (candles)

         Stones and shells

         Upcycle items (tins, glass and plastic)

      TOOLS AND MATERIALS

         Embossing machines

         Hand-embossing tools

         Work surfaces

         Cutting tools

         Sanding tools

         Glue and adhesives

         Other useful tools

         Finishes, sealers and caring for metal-craft pieces

      In this section we discuss all the tools and materials that are associated with craft metal embossing. You do not need to have all these tools from the outset, but it is a good idea to know what is available for this craft medium.

      EMBOSSING MACHINES

      These machines are used to emboss or cut metal using metal die cuts, plastic embossing folders, texture plates, cardboard cut-outs and stencils.

      The machines are small and compact and do not require electricity to operate.

      They come complete with plates and spacers which are used in different combinations, depending on the project and application.

      A

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