Tin Heart

One of my favorite tools are antique tin ceiling tiles. The designs are classic and unique. I like to use them as an “impressing” plate.
I find and purchase the antique tiles on EBAY.  New or similar tiles are available in stores like Jo Ann’s and home improvement.

I found this one at Jo Ann’s.  It is painted metal with small holes hammered which emphasize the design.

This is the impression of the tile.

The tile was placed under the surface and impressed using gold metallic ink.

The result is wonderful and rustic.   A traditional way to use this impressed design would be as a center focal point.  Usually I try to push beyond common ideas so I imagine I will likely try something off center or who knows what?

The surface is tissue paper painted with Ranger Ink color wash.  Several colors are sprayed and overlapped to create various effects.  Colors: Plum, Espresso and Butterscotch.

My newest and favorite antique tile has a heart design.

7″ x 11″

This design produces a wonderful impression!  I liked it so much when I received it I had to try it out right away.  Here are the results.

15″ x 18″

Painted tissue paper was used in both cases.

Actually, the impression of the heart came about via several steps as the first attempt didn’t work very well.

The steps I used:

1.  Place the painted paper over the tin tile and hold in place.

2.  Use a contrasting ink pad (I used an ink pad with rich Sapphire blue ink.) to press over the surface.

3.  The impression was not clear enough so removed the tile and applied a coat of silver fabric paint to blur the impression.  This left a nice effect!

4.  Then I put the tile back underneath and tried a second time with the Sapphire ink.  Walla! Perfect effects.  The paper is supple enough to push down into the crevasses.

There are quite a few more things I added to complete this piece; too many to detail here.  But, for the finishing touch I added a glass bead fringe which added a nice sparkle.

This piece is made mostly with paper.  The only fabric that is used is inserted into the vertical panels on both sides of the heart.   The fabric was placed under the paper, stitched and the paper cut away to reveal the fabric.

The finished design was layered with batting and backing and machine stitched. Various embellishments were added primarily heart motifs that repeat over the surface.   The edges are finished with painted organza.

Now I am sure you are thinking:  Tissue paper? Isn’t that too thin and fragile?  Yes, but not after several extra steps; however, unfortunately I cannot reveal them here.  These steps are detailed in my new class Vintage Botanical Interpretation offered at Joggles and scheduled for August 2009.

Check it out!  I think you will enjoy learning my techniques and methods.