Copper Leaves

A few weeks ago my friends Lili and Natasha came by for a brayering workshop.  They had been to several classes at "Cherish the Thought" scrapbooking store in Port Moody and had mentioned about a class they took working with copper sheets.  The process is to heat the sheets using a butane torch (like a creme brulee torch) until the metal changes color.  Lili had picked up a package of copper sheets and gave them to me and I've been dying to try them.  Today is the day!!

I really didn't know what I was doing, so researched the process on-line.  Not a lot of information for the average card enthusiast!!  Lots for serious artists and, of course, the copper they would use is much, much different.  But ... I thought I'd try it and just adjust the time for the thinner copper.  WOW!! Can't believe how beautiful my copper pieces turned out!!!  Just LOVE this technique.  Need to do lots of practicing before trying to write a tutorial, but wanted to share a picture of the card I made today.   Hope you like.

"Copper Leaves"

 

 

Stamps:  Vintage Labels (sentiment) (SU!)

Paper:  Basic Black (SU!), Copper, Indian Summer Designer paper

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories & Tools:  1 copper sheet (5" x 4") .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), butane torch, Little Leaves Sizzix die-cut, small oval punch, medium oval punch, 1/8" hole punch, 16" of black suede laces, copper embossing powder, heat tool
 

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First I cut out the copper using the Little Leaves die-cut in my Big Shot.  I added extra "shims" of cardstock to make it a tight fit.  The copper doesn't cut all the way through to release the shape, but if you press lightly, it will separate.  I used an emery board to smooth out the edges.  I used my medium punch to cut out a copper oval.  I put all the pieces of copper on a large brick (you need something heatproof and I'm going to look into getting something a little more user friendly :) ... the brick my husband "found" for me weighs about 20 lbs. - uggghhhh!  But it worked!!  You then run the torch above the surface of the copper, continuously moving it.  Once the copper starts to turn color, you immediately remove the torch.

I mounted the Indian Summer paper onto a frame of black and then adhered it to the left-hand side of the copper cardstock.  I punched holes and "laced up" the black suede.  I then mounted the whole thing on to the black card base.  I used glue dots on several of the leaves to hold the copper in place.

I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with copper embossing powder.  I cut it out with the small oval punch and mounted it on the heated copper medium oval.  I attached the sentiment to the card using dimensionals to pop it up.