Always With a Faux Metal Embellishment

I was inspired to try this fun technique called faux metal after seeing Becky's "Faux Something" card on the Stamp Something Challenge Blog. This is the first time I have tried this...it is so fun and easy to create a unique embellishment for your card or scrapbook page!

All you do is build up several layers of embossing powder on your cardstock by first covering it with VersaMark, then sprinkle on your metallic EP, heat until EP is melted, then repeat this step 3 more times. Make sure you have your bold image stamp ready because right after the last layer is melted you must quickly press the stamp into the melted embossing powder to create a good image. If you don't act quickly enough the image won't show up too good. If this happens just add more EP, melt and try again. Edited to add: Erin from Scrap, Stamp & be Merry also had a super cute card with some great (and funny!) instructions about this technique.

If you cut your image out like I did here, make sure to do it carefully because the EP can chip off fairly easy if you bend it too much. After I cut out my faux metal piece I added a Build a Brad to the center and adhered it to my card with a few glue dots.

My color combo used here was inspired by the pretty papers from the Porcelain Prints collection. I stamped the top half of Celery card stock with one of the small circle stamps from the Always set and then stamped the Sanded background inked in White Craft over the top to create my own background paper. To better blend the top and bottom pieces of patterned paper together, I sponged the edges with some Blue Bayou ink.

I just love the bird image in this set! He is inked in Celery and then the edges are inked in Blue Bayou using the Rock 'n Roll technique. He is cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

Hope you like the card! Now I need to head outside and uncover all of my annuals I thought I was safe to plant. It was over 80 degrees here on Memorial Day...then cold all day yesterday with frost during the night. That's Michigan for ya! Hopefully it will warm up nicely today...at least it is sunny! Tonight is game 3 in the Stanley Cup playoffs...GO RED WINGS!!!