Metal + UTEE = Fab embellishment!

1. Stamp on Copper art metal (this means is copper coloured aluminium, not real copper....it's cheaper!) using Stazon and heat set it with your heat gun.

2. Position the cookie cutter over the image and using the pointy tool, draw around the inside of the cookie cutter.

3. Leaning on a foam mat, use the pointy tool to trace over the outside lines of the image.

4. Flip the metal over, you now have the aluminium side facing up. Still leaning on the foam mat, use the paper stump to puff out the image.

5. Flip back again to the copper side and this time, lean on an acrylic mat. Use the paper stump to smooth out and flatten the copper surrounding the image, this will make the embossed image pop even more.

6. Carefully cut out the square on the inside of the line and check that it fits nicely inside the cookie cutter, then use the pointy tool to create a nice background. I've done my scribbly, scribbly technique which is basically a continuous scribble or you could do the dotty, dotty thing which is really a hammered effect using the point of the pointy tool.

7. To neaten and flatten the edges, I have used an embossing wheel to create a decorative border. There are no mats underneath my metal for this, just some scrap paper as I want to flatten the edge not emboss it.

8. Place your metal piece on a non stick craft sheet and generously pour clear UTEE over the top. Allow the UTEE to run and find it's own level before placing the cookie cutter over the top.

9. Push firmly down so that the metal cutter is all the way through the UTEE.

10. Allow the UTEE to cool a bit. It still needs to be warm to be able to remove the cookie cutter without breaking the UTEE. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO USE YOUR FINGER TO TEST THE TEMPERATURE....YOU COULD BE VERY SORRY!! The best thing to do is use some tweezers and tap the surface of the UTEE, you will know when it is set enough as you will not leave marks on the UTEE when set and you will hear the tap, tapping of the tweezers.

11. Hey presto......a beautiful piece that you can use as an embellishment for all sorts of things, even jewellery.

This whole technique came about because I hate filling the back of my embossed pieces of metal. Normally, if something is deeply embossed, you would need to fill the back with a filler to prevent the whole thing from being squished. By covering it with UTEE, the image is supported and therefore, protected by the UTEE.

This leads me nicely to the background, which is another technique to avoid filling!!! I call this the controlled squish!!

1. Take a chipboard shape and cut a piece of metal slightly larger. Place the chipboard on the metal and use the pointy tool to draw around the shape.

2. Place the metal on the mould, use some masking tape to stop it from dancing around and rub firmly over the mould with the paper stump.

3. You will now be able to see the harlequin design easily. The next step is to take the pointy tool and use it just like a pencil and draw around the outside lines of the design.

4. Remove the masking tape and place the embossed metal on the acrylic mat. Now this is the clever bit, we are going to squish the embossed areas (to avoid nasty filling) but will still be able to see the design. So, take the paper stumps and starting in the centre of one of the diamonds, gently rub and squash the metal, working it out towards the edges of the diamond. Repeat for all the embossed diamonds.

5. These new edges that you have just created need refining to give a sharp, crisp line, so pick up the pointy tool again and trace around all those edges to give you a fabulous sharp image.

6. You now need to stick this to your chipboard shape and the best way I have found to do this is to use Humungo killer adhesive.

7. Cut a piece the same size as you metal and stick it to the back of your work. Use some non stick scissors to cut out the tag shape (so you are cutting through both the metal and the sticky tape at the same time). It is best to cut on the inside of the lines.

8. I found that if I cut this in half, I have enough for two tags. Remove the backing sheet and stick firmly to the tag. Use the paper stump to rub each of the diamond shapes, this will makes sure that good contact has been made.

9. Use the pointy tool to do the scribbly, scribbly thing in every other diamond to create a more interesting effect.

10. Paint the edges of the chipboard with a black paint dabber and also apply some to the embossed metal. Use a paper towel to remove the excess paint from the metal but be careful not to rub too hard as this will also remove the copper paint finish!

11. Next for the paint effects. I am using Terra, Ferro and Precious metal paints (gold, turquoise and copper) all by Viva.

12. Apply a small amount of the Terra, which is a type of texture paste, to one side of the tag. The aim is to hide the join where the metal meets the tag.

13. I find that my finger works best for getting texture in the paste. Simply dab your finger up and down and feel the schloop, now known as the schloopy, schloopy technique! Dry with the heat gun. You can add extra texture to this product as it bubble with the heat from the heat gun. Beware of thick areas of paste, you can get some mighty big bubbles!!!!

14. Paint the Terra with the black paint dabber.

15. Apply Ferro to the remaining blank area of chipboard. I used Precious Steel Gold for this as I like the contrast of this colour against the copper metal. I like to spread this out with my finger, dragging it across the metal and also over the edge of the black Terra.

16. I have stamped into the Ferro with a wet rubber stamp. Leandra from PaperArtsy discovered that if you wet the stamp first, it doesn't stick in the Ferro. (You can also do this in the Terra if you want).

17. Now I am applying layers of Precious Metal paint. Shake the bottles really well, there is one of those little clacky ball things in it to mix the paint, the colours of these paints are truly stunning......you'll love them. Use a piece of cut'n'dry foam to apply the paint. If you keep the foam flat, you will just hit the high points....a great effect. I started with the copper, then using a clean piece of foam for each colour applied, I added small amounts of the turquoise and gold.

18. Your background is now ready for your embellishment. Because the surface is so textured, it can be a tricky task sticking it all together. Lately, I have been using E600 which sadly we do not stock...yet....but it is readily available from most good jewellery making suppliers.

Oops....nearly forgot.....I aged my piece of UTEE with a little black paint dabber as it was a bit too orange....I love orange but not that much!!!

Anyway, I told you I had some time on my hands, this was a mammoth post, bet you are ready for another cuppa...I am!!!

Stay warm, Lin x