Mercart Metal Embossing Class

Today, I helped with a class at CHA! In perspective, I was just a small part but it was certainly exciting for me.

Magdalena, from Mercart, taught the class called Everyday Embossing.

Each student made a pewter medallion using metal embossing tools on pewter. The best part was that I learned, too. I basically moved around the room to help anyone with questions. It was so gratifying to see the excitement of all the students. It's pretty amazing to see a piece of flat metal transformed into a dimensional design.

I'm inspired to get back to metal embossing!

Today, I can say.....

........from sunny California!

-judy

Off to CHA

I'm off to Anaheim today. I'm so excited to be going to CHA! I love seeing all the new products and wonderful artwork. And it will be much warmer there!

I have an incredible opportunity to help with a class at CHA this year. I emailed my friend Magdalena to tell her I'd see her at CHA. She has the company Mercart. They sell metal embossing tools, metal and supplies. I asked her if she needed any help with her class. To my surprise, she took me up on my offer. I'll be helping class attendees who have questions or need one on one help while Magdalena and her mother, also Magdalena, teach the class. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity. I'm not nervous yet but I know I will be on Monday morning. I hope to be able to post while I'm at CHA including some photos so I'll let you know how the class goes.

For now, I have a couple photos of a pencil can I made with embossed aluminum. It started out as a vegetable can.

Here's another side of it.

Enjoy!

-judy

A Treasure Box

I'm sharing a little trinket box today to which I added a pewter embossed top.

I started with an unfinished wooden box that I found at a craft store. I stained it black with ink from a black dye reinker........I was too lazy to go down to the basement to find some wood stain. It worked!

For the top, I cut a piece of chipboad slightly smaller than the box top. I used that to determine the size of the pewter. I drew the flower & verse on paper and traced it onto the metal. I embossed (raised up) the flower & debossed (dented in) the verse. Then I worked the other design elements around the verse until I was happy with it. A blackening solution darkened the verse & other debossed areas. With the proper tools, it's really easier than it looks.

If you want to see some amazing embossed metal art, check out the work of Magdalena at Mercart. She does amazing things! I met her at CHA a couple summers ago. I was drawn to her booth by all the wonderful tools she had displayed. We had a chance to chat and become friends. I later bought one of her books. Her techniques inspired me when I created this box top. I always stop at her booth whenever I get to CHA. She and her mother are wonderful people, incredible at their craft!

Remember.......treasure special moments spent with a friend.

Thanks to all of you, my friends, for visiting!

-judy

Metal Embossing....

.......I'm going to stray from stamping today.

Here's a little sample of my metal embossing. I dressed up the lid of a simple craft pencil box with a piece of embossed foil.


First, I stained & finished the box. Then I cut a piece of chipboard to fit the lid. I traced the chipboard on a piece of aluminum craft foil to define the pattern area. Then I just doodled with my metal tools.......just fun for me. Some of the design is embossed & some is debossed (dented in). That was not by design choice......I wasn't too pleased with myself when I started working on the wrong side of the metal. Rather than start over, I just worked it into the design.

I used acrylic paint rubbed over the design to antique it.....give it an aged metal look. By buffing the metal with paper towel, the paint rubs off the raised areas & remains in the recessed areas. It makes the pattern stand out. I use this box to store some of my metal working tools.

If you're interested in any of the tools, check out Ten Seconds Studio or Mercart. You'll find lots of visual inspiration in their galleries. As always, if you have any questions about my art, please email me.

Create art!

-judy