This was a fairly, simple card. Except for the 2nd degree burn, destruction of my grid mat and 2 band aids to cover the areas left after the copper sherds had been removed, I can call it a success.
I found this site called the Graphics Fairy. This wonderful woman has amassed over 4000 free images of vintage...well...everything. From angels to fairies to birds to diagrams of horse diseases (not kidding...it's in one of the galleries) you can spend, like, 3 hours and 20 minutes downloading vintage images that you may never look at again, but can't help yourself because you're afraid it might all go away and you won't have it and...well...you get the picture.
If you DON'T get the picture, then good...that means the meds are working.
I found this angel and a wonderful old Christmas card with this angel and some houses and trees that I wanted to make. I used distress inks and blending tools for the sky and smudged grey panpastel into the snow...the rest turned out to be an abject failure.
But it didn't matter...what DID matter was making sure the copper wings stole the show. And they did. At a price.
Ever since stumbling upon Loll's Heated Copper tutorial (and, subsequently, strolling into Hobby Lobby and asking for copper sheets and acetylene torches at 9am in the morning-I'll leave you to imagine the looks and the several calls to Homeland Security, I'm sure I generated) I've had this 'thing' for heating copper. Loll's fabulous tut is here Heated Copper Accents Tutorials at Splitcoaststampers
If you decide to give heated copper a try, allow me to give you a piece of advice or 15 about dealing with copper.
1-If using your heat gun, which I do, you CAN heat your copper on your Ranger non stick craft sheet without damage. What is UNDERNEATH your craft sheet is NOT going to make out for the better.
2-Copper is light. Hold your heat gun straight down on your target. Not paying attention will assure the air will get under the copper and blow it-chances are on your lap while you're wearing shorts-and you'll spend the rest of your life having your husband make jokes about 'branding his heifer'. On the bright side, AFTER you are indicted on felony manslaughter charges, none of the women in jail will give you problems, as they'll be afraid of any person who belonged to a gang who gives THAT kind of tatoo.
3-Run your copper through your Big Shot AFTER cutting the sheet and AFTER cutting your dies. If you don't, then refer to the previous paragraph regarding band-aids and the removal of copper sherds.
Lastly, I would encourage you to give it a try. It took me about 10-15 minutes to heat the wings. If you hit them with high heat too quickly, you'll get silver spots instead of orange, yellow, pink and gold. Copper also keeps changing when you remove the heat, which is why I kept the wings close but concentrated on them separately. At the end, it's worth the time.
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2014 GMT Views: 956
Favorited:2
Stunning!!!! Ow on the tattoo, though!!! Don't you just love to walk into the craft store and ask for something and get THAT look? I asked for Gamsol once and even explained what it was used for and they were clueless. Since then I have learned that it's a brand and odorless mineral spirits is what I need! Your card is beautiful and full of WOW!!!!
Registered: November 21, 2007 Location: Regina, SK Posts: 22971
Thu, Aug 07, 2014 @ 6:39 PM
Your stories kill me, Carmen! After hearing this, I'm afraid I might need an EMT on call...and perhaps the fire dept. too! Amazingly beautiful inspite of everything!