FAUX PRESSED METAL

Do you love the old-fashioned classic look of pressed metal? I do! 

Follow along with me in this blog post to discover how you can mimic this look for use in greeting cards! 

The photo below shows an example that I made with this method:

Each piece that you make with this technique has both a shiny shiny side as well as a more subtle matte finish side. Both of the looks are wonderful. 

Whichever you decide to use in your cardmaking though is completely 

a matter of taste and preference. 

Or, maybe the card that you are creating would simply look better 

with either one or the other.

Unfortunately, the example pictured below can only be used on one side because it features letters. And, unless your perceived end result is meant to look a bit wonky, you'd want the letters to be facing the correct direction.

I think my favorite example here -- and perhaps the most realistic looking faux metal -- is the one portrayed below. 

The first one shows the shinier of the two sides.

Shown below is the same design, only the more subtle matte-finished side.

This one also looks fairly classic. Victorian. Wallpaper. I do love it.

And, once again, the same design in the matte finish. 

Equally as lovely, just more subtle.

Finally is the one that has no pressed design in the center, 

just around the edges, for a festive look.

It would work well to add an oval paper focal point 

if using this design for a greeting card.

If you don't already know this technique, here is how you make pieces that can be used in cardmaking.

Grab your roll of heavy duty aluminum foil. Cut a piece to the right size -- I used 3 3/34" x 5" for mine -- and insert inside your favorite embossing folder. Run through the Big Shot. That's it!! 

They are fairly fragile, and you want to be careful to touch them as little as possible to prevent getting fingerprints on them. Also, nothing should be pressed down on them in order to preserve the raised pattern. If you set a heavy book on it, well, start all over. You will have flattened it pretty well.

When putting together a card, pop up some portion of the card so the pressure is not on the foil section. I don't think they would travel through the mail system very well, although I've never attempted it. I think these cards are better off hand delivered.

I plan on using one of these in my husband's birthday card. When I finish it, I will be sure to post it!

Grab some foil and a handful of embossing folders, and give this fun and EASY technique a try!

Faux

Smiles.