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How to work with foil
| Always prep the foil with scotchbrite first. This will remove any fingerprints. Fingerprints will keep the metal from antiquing. I always work with gloves ( you are right, I am not wearing gloves in the picture). |
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Stamp on the foil with Stewart Superior India ink. This is a water based dye ink, that is permanent when dry. Or use any permanent ink. Either wait to air dry or use a heat gun to use right away. |
Copper and brass can be heated with a torch to produce desired colors. Notice I am using a clip while heating the metal. It gets hot and will burn your fingers. Copper: Less heat produces red and orange. More heat purples, blues and grays. A heat gun can also be used, but may take longer. Brass: Heat produces grays and browns. |
 
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The foil can be run through a crimper, as with the piece above. |
| Place the metal piece in the oxidizer before the India Stamp Ink dries and you will get a resist effect. After the background is of the desired darkness, wipe away the remaining ink. |
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Use steel stamps to create your own words. |
Embossing the stamped image can add a 3-d effect to the foil. To make the embossing stand out, Lightly emboss on the front. All you want to do is mark the part you want to raise. Then flip it over and emboss with a heavier hand. This will now make the embossed part raised.
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Copper, brass and nickel silver placed in an antiquing solution will
tarnish within 5 to 15 seconds. Remove and place in water when it reaches
desired color to neutralize the solution.
You can also use liver of sulpher. NOTE I AM WEARING GLOVES. THIS A WEAK ACID. OR USE NON METALLIC TONGS (WOOD). USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA.
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