Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Part II More cuttlebug play


Thanks Kim for throwing out the suggestion of trying out alcohol ink on metal! Oh I love metal and don't use it often enough. I saw your comment this morning and every time I had a spare moment today my mind was turning around how to give this a whirl.


Sometimes when I use AI on aluminum it does not give me the contrast I want and I end up covering the background with acrylic dabber paint or gesso which does not leave the metal look to be enjoyed. So I started this time with trying out the AI on small pieces of brass, aluminum and copper. The colors did their own polished stone effects and created fun backgrounds. I then run it through the CB and tried a couple methods of removing the AI from the embossed leaves. Of course blending solution works great but one must be careful not to have a tip of the rag remove it from the background at the same time the leaves are being cleaned. I personally liked my other solution...Sharpie markers also lift off AI so I did that to replace the color of the stems. I found success in cleaning the leaves with a quick pass of the Sharpie marker and an immediate wipe with a dry tissue. This left the leaves the beautiful natural golden brass color.

I gotta tell you this is fast become my favorite embossing folder! The embossed pieces can be used any direction. This close-up may have the image upside down from the folder but to me it looks a lot more like tree branches as opposed to the bush-likeness in the original direction. This little serendipity learning occurred while using the scraps to make the card above. This photo is somewhat better of the AI than the card but I tell you--just try it! Get your fingers a little inky. This larger piece will be a wall hanging but I gotta finish it another day.





When I first saw these landscape type embossing folders I wondered what I could possible do with them besides pumping out the same image over and over. Now I am glad I gave them a try and I am one my way to order some of the other seasonal ones too!

Thanks Kim for expanding the possibilities even further! And for any of you who don't frequent Kim's blog Running on Ink do know she is one fantastic, creative and immensely talented young woman. You just might want to check out what she is doing too.

12 comments:

  1. oh ah oh ah...these are just gorgeous! The colors you created on this metal just makes me giddy- wonderful wonderful fall colors! I just want to touch the leaves they look so real!

    Thanks for the shout out you are incredible kind! HUGS!!!!!

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  2. Wow Jan, these are simply stunning! I am a relative newbie to the Cuttlebug - only bought mine last month so I don't have many things for it yet, but I just ordered the holly spray embossing folder today so when it comes I will be trying this out! By the way I found putting a tiny touch of blending solution onto a cotton bud was a good way of selectively cleaning AI off areas of a design.

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  3. Fantastic way to use metal. Love your cards and the large piece is going to be great to work with. Please show it to us when you finish it.

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  4. Jan this beautiful. You always inspire me! Thanks for shring.
    Jan

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing this and the link to the info. Purchasing a few of those Cuttlebug templates has been something I've been desiring to do. Now, I'll have some ideas to add to them... Thanks!

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  6. Oh my goodness. I feel a cuttlebug order coming on. The two new folders you are using are calling me. Love the metal embossing. Kim is such a creative friend. Would love to know more about the metal you are using.

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  7. You make me droooooool!!! I love what you've been doing with this folder!

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  8. Wow, Jan, that is awesome work!! I love the effect you achieved. Must give it a try.

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  9. Great card. Love the look of the embossed & inked metal. I have some AI that I haven't even used yet. This could be a great 1st try with them.

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  10. Wow! This is so cool! I love the embossed metal. How neat.

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  11. I LOVE these. Especially the torn paper one, it's like a super high end botique card that I'd STILL pay $6 for in spite of the fact that I make cards because it looks that truly valuable and just beautiful. Also you could totally use it for a guy and I stink at guy cards, so thanks for that inspiration too!

    hugs
    e

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