Tutorial: Stencil Embossed Foil Tile

Happy Monday!  I am so excited to share a special tutorial with you today!  I am part of a really fabulous line up of artist celebrating the new release of stencils by Rebekah Meier for The Crafter’s Workshop!  Rebekah’s designs and art are so amazing and inspiring.  I am so thrilled to get to share a fun technique today that features her 6×6 Rosetta design.

For this project, I used the stencil to create an embossed pattern on a piece of Vintaj Silver Arte Foil.  Using a die cut machine to emboss using stencils is so easy.  I have created a graphic above to show you how easy it is.  You can find the full size printable version on my NEW Basics 101 page.  You will find more printable instructographics like this one for some basic techniques in the near future.

For embossing with stencils, you simply need to build the right Sizzix sandwich for your Big Shot machine.  (If you use another brand of machine, check for comparable pads as the ones I mention for the Big Shot.)  Start with a Multipurpose Platform open to tab 1.  Add a clear cutting plate on top, then your stencil face down.  Place your material (in the case of this project, foil) face down on top of the stencil.  Place a Sizzix Silicone Pad on top of the paper and then add a Sizzix Impressions Pad on top.  Crank the stack through the machine.  It is so easy and adds so many possibilities for using your stencils in new ways!

Ranger’s Vintaj 6×6 Arte Foil sheets emboss with stencils like a dream!  The plastic part of the stencil design debossed into the foil.  The open areas on the stencil are embossed.  This foil has an adhesive back so you can only use the one side.  If you use a foil that is plain on the back you could use either side of the foil.

Paint the foil using Ranger Vintaj Patinas.  Vintaj Patinas are specially formulated paints designed to adhere to metal.  They dry very quickly and are permanent on the surface when dry.  I used Marine and Moss Patinas.

To blend colors slightly, use a dry paper towel to blot over the wet paints.  As I blotted I transferred colors from one area to another with the paper towel.

After blotting, use a Vintaj Reliefing Block to buff over the surface.  The Reliefing Block will knock some of the color off of the raised areas.  The longer the paints dry, the more permanent they become and the more resistant to reliefing.  I prefer to buff after only letting the paint dry a minute or so.

After reliefing, place the stencil back on the foil.  It will set down in the debossed areas.  You can now use it as a mask to add extra color to the raised areas.  On my piece, I used Quartz Patina and a drop of Garnet Patina to add pink to the center flower design.

With the stencil in place, you can also “antique” the embossed areas with archival ink (shown: Watering Can) by simply rubbing the pad over the surface.  The ink will wipe clean off of the stencil with a baby wipe.

After painting, reliefing, and staining, the embossed design will look wonderfully shabby and aged.

For my project, I decided I wanted to make a small decor piece that I could display on an easel.  To make it sturdy, begin by removing the paper backing from the foil to expose the adhesive.

Place a 5″ x 5″ piece of mat board or chipboard in the center of the foil pressing it down onto the adhesive.

Fold each corner of the foil down on the back onto the mat board.

Fold each side of the foil down on the back onto the mat board.  I like to stand the piece up and roll the edge on my table to make a nice clean fold.

Use a piercing tool to make a hole in each corner of the foil.  Place a silver brad through each corner.  Use a hammer to hammer the brads to flatten them and to make them look more shabby.

Antique the finished edges by running the archival ink pad along the edges of the tile.

To add a sentiment to the piece, select a Tim Holtz metal Word Band embellishment. Paint the Word Band with Vintaj Patinas.  Buff the dry Patina to remove it (or most of it) from the surface of the metal strip.  The color will stay in the recessed letters.  Reliefing will also make the metal band slightly shinier than before.

Mist about 30″ or Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon with water.

Mist the ribbon with Distress Stain.  If you don’t have stain in a mister, you can also scribble it onto your craft sheet and toss the ribbon around on the stain to add color.  The water in the ribbon will help wick the stain and distribute the color.

Blot the ribbon in a dry towel and then dry using a heat tool.  For crinkled ribbon, wrinkle and bunch the ribbon in your hand as you dry it.  For smooth ribbon, simply toss it gently while heating.

To add age to the ribbon, tap over it lightly with Vintage Photo Distress Ink using an ink blending tool.

Feed the ribbon through the Word Band.

Wrap the ribbon around the middle of the tile.  Tie the ribbon on the right side of the tile. Trim the ribbon so that you have two tails that are about 1 1/2″ long.

Form the remaining ribbon into loops (think figure 8s).

Lay the ribbon over the tie on the first piece of ribbon.  Tie the two tails on the first piece of ribbon around the second ribbon.  Tie the tails tightly around the loops of ribbon.  Trim the ends as needed.

Embellish around the bow with flowers, beads, buttons, etc.  I used a few pieces of vintage millinery flowers, some wired bead sprays, and a few vintage jewelry baubles to accent my piece.

The combination of the paints, reliefing, and inking make this feel like a vintage painted tin tile.  The pattern is so intricate and has so many details.  I love the way the color is settles in around those details to draw more attention to them.

These vintage pieces were in an amazing gift of vintage goodies given to me recently by a sweet friend.  Using them on this little decor piece will make me think of my friend every time I look at it!

This little art piece makes me smile!  I love having it sit on my desk.  The sentiment and the sweet bits of vintage just make happy!

Don’t forget to check out the other blogs on the hop.  You will see a link to them all down below the supply list.  They all have wonderful inspiration to share with you, all featuring Rebekah’s collection for The Crafter’s Workshop!

 

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