Playing with Copper

Several years ago my husband and I went to a craft festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  I watched while an artist created all types of copper images of flowers, leaves, and more.  The artist used fire to change the color of the copper.  I liked the iridescent colors so I became determined to play with fire and copper.

I decided to herald in Spring with some copper butterflies.

I used Making Memories Slice Elite Cordless Digital Design Cutter and metal sheets: copper.  The canvas is the size of ATC cards.  I purchased them from AC Moores.  I sprayed the canvas with Maya Mists Avocado Metallic Mist and went back over it with Ranger's Acrylic Paint Dabber, Copper.

I used the Chillin' Teen SD to create the butterflies.  I tried cutting and it worked well on the thin sheets of copper, but if dulled the blade quickly.  I opted to use my embossing tool to outline where I needed to cut.  The pieces of copper wrapped around the butterflies are just cut with my Fiskars Trimmer.

For the Copper and Fire
I held the corner of the copper butterfly with a pair of tweezers and used an ordinary lighter and carefully touched the first to all parts of the copper butterflies.  DO NOT TOUCH the copper for a minute or two.  LET IT COOL.  By experience ...it is hot and will burn. You can use your embossing heat tool as well.  You just do not get as strong a color change and it takes a lot longer.  

I used Art Glitter adhesive to glue down the butterflies to the canvas.

I cut the flower from the same SD.  I went back and embossed/cut the circles.  I placed the head of a pin in the middle to hold it steady and brought up the edges to make is 3D. 

This is where it was really great having my Slice.  I was able to build a butterfly by cutting out three of the same image in three different sizes.  I textured the butterflies with Tim Holtz's Hammer.  Then I "fired" the copper.  I added a thin slice of the copper twisting and curling the top.  I glued it together using Ranger's Glossy Accents.

I used a hemostat to hold the three butterflies together while it was drying.  Wendy Vecchi, from Studio 490 introduced me to using a hemostat tool as a clamp.  It works great with many projects.  I actually purchased my hemostat at Western Auto.  LOL


April's Challenge
This month's Challenge and Giveaway is posted HERE!  I hope you will join in on the fun for a chance to win a wonderful prize pack from Making Memories.  

Some thoughts from the Comments:
said  "You know what I really need to learn more about? My camera! :)"

Lisa, that is a great idea.  I love Katrina Kennedy has a blog called Capture Your 365 that has some of the most marvelous photo ideas.  I'm not sure what type of camera you have, but I find by using your camera in creative ways it sort of forces you into learning those setting, lighting, etc. tricks.  Katrina gives a lot of help on the use of your camera by way of her blog.  I encourage you to check it out and make it your April Challenge project.  


Oh My gosh!!! Cute stuff! Fun challenge....I will have to look about my craft area and see what I would like to learn more about.....probably my Cricut!!! Im definitely not a pro, and hardly ever use it! Now would be a good time to learn more!

I am learning about my Slice by checking out YouTube tutorials by Making Memories.  I'm sure I'll locate others as I work through the month.   There are so many tutorials out there about the Circut.  My Circut will be on my July list of things to learn more about.  I hope you will make this your April Challenge project. 

Kerri#1017
hmmm what can i try to learn? think i might have a go at sanding on my Co-ordinations papers for a card or 2. you're always inspiring miss D. why do you need ideas lol :)

Kerri, you are always so sweet with your comments.  Honestly, I think you should go for it with the Core'dination papers.  They have so many types of distressable/sandable papers you can't go wrong.  Here is a way you can even win some.  It just came in my email yesterday.  Core'dinations Enter To Win...$700.00 in Core'dinations products. I do hope you enter your project in April's Challenge. 

Personal
It's Good Friday and the start of Passover is this evening.  Many people around the world will look to the meaning of the next days and what it means to who they are.  For me personally, it means God is merciful as well as just.  My sin demands justice, but grace and mercy stepped in and Christ took my place.  I know too that Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!  

God bless you and have a wonderful weekend.  






Gratitude List
1.  Grace alone
2.  Faith alone
3.  in Christ alone
4.  Scripture alone
5.  1 Corinthians 10:31... do all to the glory of God. 
      Romans 11:36 ... to whom be glory for ever.  
     Psalm 73:24-26... but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.  
     John 17:22, 24... for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for the link and info on getting the most out of my camera, Debby! I am blown away by your project and how cool those copper pieces are!

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  2. Row. Amazing and so creative.

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  3. Aaak. Sorry. I was typing my comment on my phone. That should be; Wow ! Not row. :)

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    Replies
    1. it's the danger of technology on the go....LOL

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  4. That is so amazing!!!
    Love that copper butterfly!!

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  5. what a great post~I have some copper sheets and hadn't found a use for them until now~your decor piece looks amazing!! happy Easter to you and your family.

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  6. Oh wow! Those butterflies are awesome.

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  7. How fun!
    The butterflies are beautiful.

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  8. Haven't played with fire and Copper. I love how Copper foils work in my projects. It's a wonderful way to accent your art :) TFS!

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  9. I love how the fire changed the colors of the copper, and the butterflies turned out fabulous! I also am a fan of Gatlinburg, it's one of my favorite vacation spots! Love Penny

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  10. You are so much more adventurous than I! Way to go! And your testimony of Christ's sacrifice is awesome!

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  11. Thanks for stopping by today~have a wonderful easter my friend!!!

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