Cecilia Swatton: Embossing with Stencils on Aluminum Tape

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Embossing with Stencils on Aluminum Tape

Home improvement stores carry rolls of plumber's aluminum tape like this, which measures just shy of 2 inches in width. When it comes off the roll, it has a paper backing that you can peel off after decorating the silvery top side. Under that baking, there's adhesive.

I'm sure it does a good job with ducts and in its other applications -- but for me, it's part of my collection of art-making supplies! Below are two examples of ways I've used it.

Today's first art sample is a Christmas card that was quick and easy to make. I simply rolled out the tape and -- while its white paper backing was still covering the self-adhesive side -- used one of my Borders series of stencils -- Swatton Borders # 2 -- with red paint, adding a pattern. After that paint dried, I trimmed one end of the tape to be slanted, suggesting a candle being burned. Then I removed the white backing, exposing the adhesive side of the tape, and used that to attach it to the card cover. (The flame was cut from marbled paper.)

Today's second art sample results from different a technique:

For this project, besides the aluminum tape, acrylic paint and stencils, I used alcohol inks, Sharpie pens, an embossing stylus, padding (a yellow craft foam sheet) and masking tape.

The next photo, below, shows a close-up of aluminum tape that's been removed from the roll and taped into place with blue masking tape.

Atop those 2 strips of aluminum tape, I've placed my Wrought Iron Gate stencil L224; its width of 9" x 12"lets me position the stencil exactly where I want it.

I traced inside the stencils' open areas with an embossing stylus, the top of which is shown below -- but a ballpoint pen would work, too. (In the photo below I've moved on to using part of another stencil, to be shown at the bottom of this post.)

My next step was to lift off the stencil to reveal the embossed tape --

Below are two photos showing the embossed tapes with alcohol inks added--

I liked the colors of these inks, but wasn't happy with the way the embossed line-work disappeared under them. So I began experimenting. One experiment was to remove most of the ink with rubbing alcohol. I also got out my Sharpie pens, knowing that these deeply embossed lines would be easy to trace. But to be on the safe side, I replaced the stencils, lining them up with the embossed line-work --

After lifting off the stencil a second time, I had the results below.

Above: The lower strip of tape has been embossed, alcohol-inked, and wiped with rubbing alcohol. Some of the alcohol ink remains, highlighting the embossed line-work.

Below is a 6"X6" greeting card I made using this tape --