VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 18

And now for something completely different again! Metal tooling!


Card by Freyja Lee













Freyja says:

• No stamps are used although the central heart* can be stamped if preferred.
• The metal used here is a red disposable ashtray.
• Emboss and cut out the heart.
• Cover a square of white/cream card with hstrips of double sided sticky tape and apply multi-coloured leafing flakes.
• Press onto the tape and brush off excess.
• Cut heart and layer with decorative paper the red heart plus jewel and mount onto a red main card.

NOTE: This is a superb idea: recycling, antismoking and "green" (all in one project) as this card doesn't even use stamps - it's an ashtray! Which goes to prove you should always keep your eyes open, because you never know what you might find to use in your artwork.

Did you notice the tiny little "jewel" in the centre of the heart (a sticky-back teardrop)? And the self-adhesive copper tape applied as a border to the card.

* If you want to stamp the central heart, use metal sheeting (copper or aluminium, from a stamp store or your local DIY shop) use a permanent ink like Staz-On and stamp on the back of the metal. Emboss shapes into the metal using a scoring tool, blunt knitting needle or even a used-up ballpoint pen (make sure you don't pierce through the metal by placing a mouse mat underneath). Cut out with scissors from the right side, and colour if you wish using a red Staz-On inkpad or metallic pen etc.