Faux Metal Postage Stamps Card for Blockheads' Magic Metals Technique Challenge!

Howzit Everyone!

It's technique challenge time again at Blockheads Paper Arts and this one is called Magic Metals!  Karen is hosting the challenge this month and she has an awesome tutorial and technique sample for you to check out over at Blockheads Paper Arts.

Faux Metal Postage Stamps

 

I've been having a ball and my studio has been more like a witch's den or whatever you call the place where witches concoct spells and potions.  I've been creating with embossing powder flying everywhere with a lot of "a sprinkle of this and what would happen if I add a sprinkle of that" going on ;0)

Here's my first design team creation for the Magic Metals technique challenge with more to follow so don't go anywhere!  I created these faux embossed metal postage stamp embellishments for my card with embossing powder.  I'm a stamp collector of the other kind too and I was inspired by my gold plated metal commemorative stamps and this is the result and I hope you like them!

All the stamps used are exclusive to Blockheads Paper Arts.  I used sections of the Botanical Silhouettes stamps to create my faux metal postage stamps and cut outs, the French Script from Backgrounds for All Occasions and the Postcard stamp from the Vintage Light and Form set to create my faux vintage ledger paper background.

Faux Metal Postage Stamps Card

Die cut out four postage stamp frames and inserts from Tim's Grungeboard with a Sizzix Postage Stamp die.  Apply clear Top Boss embossing ink to each rectangle insert and coat with gold embossing powder.  I used gold UTEE, ultra thick embossing enamel, but you can use any kind of embossing powder to achieve the same results by applying more layers of EP!  Apply clear Top Boss embossing ink to one of the Botanical Silhouette stamps and put it near your work area so it's ready to go.  I like to put ink on the stamp as a release agent to prevent any of the UTEE from sticking to it.  Heat one of the rectangle inserts until the powder melts and apply more UTEE while the layer is still in a liquid state.  Continue heating until the second layer melts and while the UTEE is still molten press the stamp firmly down into the UTEE and avoid moving it!  Hold it there for a few seconds to allow the UTEE to cool and harden and then carefully remove the stamp.  The result is a beautiful embossed design but if you don't like how it turned out you can simply reheat the UTEE and start again!  Repeat the same steps for the other 3 pieces.  I like the way the grungeboard shrunk and curled a bit but if you want the embossed piece to lie flat then use chipboard or a very heavy weight cardstock instead.  Stain the postage stamp grungeboard frames with Black Soot Distress Stain.

I created my own vintage ledger paper background for my card by first designing the distressed red lines with a yellowed background colour in Photoshop and printing it out on cream cardstock.  Cut the cardstock down to the size needed for the card.  Wet the cardstock and tear the edges to get the old torn look.  While the cardstock is still wet stamp the French script multiple times with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  The ink runs a bit and blurs the writing.  Re-wet the cardstock again and apply Pumice Stone Distress Ink and Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink to the Post Card stamp and stamp it along the top and bottom edges.  Re-wet the cardstock again but only in certain spots and along the edges and apply Vintage Paper Distress Ink with an ink applicator tool to the entire sheet.  You can see in the photo above that the ink goes on darker where the cardstock was more wet and gives it that really cool vintage look.

Cut out a mat from black cardstock with Fiskars Paper Edges Postage Stamp scissors and adhere the faux vintage ledger paper to it with double sided tape.  Cut out a larger mat from light brown cardstock and sew a red thread border around all four sides.  Then distress the edges with Tim's Distress Tool.  Make a folded card from black cardstock and adhere the brown cardstock mat to it with double sided tape.  To give the card the vintage wrapped parcel look wrap a length of burlap string around the Postage Stamp panel and secure the ends to the back with double sided tape.  Adhere vintage lace with another piece of string on top along the bottom edge and wrap the ends around the sides and secure to the back with double sided tape.  Make a bow from the burlap string and adhere it where the strings cross with a glue dot.  Adhere the Postage Stamp panel to the card with double sided tape.

Stamp portions of the Botanical Silhouette stamps onto a scrap piece of the faux vintage ledger paper with a combination of Distress Inks Pumice Stone, Vintage Paper and a touch of Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink.  Apply Versamark Watermark ink to the stamped images with a Versmark Pen and coat with a single layer of clear embossing powder.  Heat the EP and cut out the stamped images.  Adhere Recollections flowers to the card front with glue dots.  Then embellish the bouquet with the Botanical cut outs adhered in place with dabs of white craft glue.

Here's a peek and the link to my second Magic Metals project for you to check out but in the meanwhile grab all your supplies and give this technique a whirl and enter the Blockheads Magic Metals Technique Challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate!  The Challenge closes on April 21st so you've got plenty of time to play and enter!  All the info regarding the challenge is below with pics of more design team samples as well as the challenge entries above the inlinkz button!  I hope to see your project featured there soon ;0)

Here's some challenges for this card!
Simon Says stamp: Anything Goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad: Anything Goes
Crafty Purple Frog: Anything Goes
Frilly and Funky - show your favorite vintage style
The Secret Crafter Saturday: shabby chic/vintage
Sweet Stampin: anything goes
Stampin for the weekend: anything goes
Vintage Challenge - Blue Box babe blog
Little Miss Muffet Challenge #31 - Silhouettes

 

Happy Stamping!

 THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN

I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * About Art Accents