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Faux Etched Metal

January 28, 2010
Love the look of etched metal, but not crazy about the chemicals? 

On the Bead Cruise, instructor Tracy Stanley showed us how to use texturing plates to achieve an etched metal look without the chemicals! She simply taped the metal blank and texture plate down to her bench block and hammered away to impress the texture onto the metal. Pure genius! For mine, I used Vintaj altered blanks and sanded the surface to bring out the texture. Tracy showed examples using copper and then antiqued them in liver of sulfur. At first I thought her examples were etched metal, they were fantastic!

Brass texture plates are generally used for PMC and can be found at places like PMC123.
Tracy is a fun and fearless teacher that encourages experimentation and creativity in her classes.  If you have the chance I highly recommended signing up for one of her upcoming classes at Bead & Button!
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22 Comment

  1. TesoriTrovati
    January 28, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Tracy is awesome! I took her class at last years' Bead & Button and I am thinking of taking another. She sold me a small set of those texture plates and I bang the hell out of them all the time. But my samples are so small I have to watch banging the hell out of my fingers as well! Love the look. Will get them out again to play. Enjoy the day! Erin

  2. mairedodd
    January 28, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    hey now, that is cool!i have the floral one you have shown… am guessing the gauge would need to be on the thinner side… hmmm, off to try that now! thanks, heather…

  3. sandi m
    January 28, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    Tracy really knows how to teach by the K.I.S.S method! Can't wait for her return to Chicago.

    PS – Marie, we used 24ga sheet.

  4. sasha and max
    January 28, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    Thanks H eather- that looks great – have to give it a try – it sounds so much simpler than I could ever imagine.!! Vicki

  5. Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor
    January 29, 2010 at 3:07 am

    That is so awesome! Wonder if the hard plastic plates would work if the metal gauge was fine enough. Will have to try it and see. The brass plates look great. Beauties in of themselves!

  6. TicketyBoo Jewellery
    January 29, 2010 at 8:38 am

    love reading your blog and i have passed on a award to you, to collect it please visit my blog

  7. *~tabby~* crooked heart art
    January 29, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    this is soo cool
    what are you going to make with them??
    cn't wait to see
    many thanks
    tabby

  8. Michelle
    January 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    This is a fantastic technique….must try…
    Bead Happy!
    Michelle

  9. Alice
    January 29, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Oh, great idea! I'm really nervous about using chemicals and this sounds like a great way to get beautiful results. Thanks for the info and the link to the plates!

  10. Heather Powers
    January 29, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Hi Cindy – you really have to hammer the brass plates to leave a impression. I don't think the plastic ones would hold up to the force. But you would use the brass plates on clay. : )

  11. Adventures with Millie Making Jewelry
    January 29, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    What a great idea and post! Thanks so much!

  12. Azure Islands Designs
    January 29, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Wow…that is great…I love texture but I do not like to use chemicals of any kind!!!
    Will have to give this a try…
    Cheers

  13. kinetic angel
    January 29, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    What a fantastic idea! I really enjoy learning how to do things differently. Thanks!

  14. Michelle
    January 30, 2010 at 12:41 am

    This is brilliant! I'm definitely putting Tracy on my "wish list" of instructor!

  15. Tania - Jet Designs
    January 30, 2010 at 1:34 am

    Wow – this is great – I was looking at doing my first lot of etching this weekend – but this is also really appealing

  16. Cindy
    January 31, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Your mini tutorial is the next best thing to taking a class with Tracy (sure wish I could). This is a wonderful idea and I'd love to give it a try!

  17. Nyblaque
    February 13, 2010 at 2:16 am

    beautiful work. I love the technique and the idea of minimal/no chemicals is a definite plus. How inspiring!! thanks for sharing with us.

    Ny

  18. CraftCrave
    February 16, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Thank you! This blog post will be advertised on CraftCrave in the Handcraft category today (look for timestamp: [16 Feb 01:00pm GMT]).

  19. Etched Awards
    March 31, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Very cool idea! Thanks for posting this.
    Awesome job !!! keep it up.

  20. gotsparkles
    June 21, 2010 at 5:39 am

    Hello –
    I am trying to use a mini rolling mill for the same effect, but getting frustrated quickly. This looks like a viable alternative.
    Quick question: How long will the metal plates last before they are flattened beyond use?
    Thanks!!

  21. Double Glazing Rugby
    May 17, 2011 at 7:48 am

    These design looks like an antique. With it's copper color you can determined the age of a this thing. You can reflect yourself in designing. It may help you to create a better one.

  22. plumbing
    May 19, 2011 at 5:48 am

    That was a great work. I am happy looking at your work. Nice post!

Comments are closed.