Faux Metal - and Paper Napkins (Serviettes)

I love the look of metal pieces on a card, but if the pieces are real metal, mailing the card can be challenging.  Sometimes I use metallic cardstock, but that can be pretty expensive and I seldom have the color I want right when I want it!  It's a little tough to tell in the picture, but the edges of my focal element all look like they're framed in a shiny metal frame.  It's really pretty in person, and matches the leaf design and sentiment perfectly since they all use the same product.  Here's what you would need to make this card:

• Brown Cardstock
• Pretty Paper Napkin in autumn colors
• Leafy Template - I used "Mini Maple Leaves" from The Crafter's Workshop
• Cutting Dies & Die Cutting Machine - I used "Fleur De Lis Rectangles" and "Fancy Tags One" from Spellbinders, and their Grand Caliber machine.
• Metallic Embossing Powder - I used a fine Copper embossing powder from Clearsnap
• Embossing Ink - I used VersaMark
• Embossing Pen - I used Zig's Emboss Writer
• Adhesives - I used a glue stick, my ATG with double-sided tape, and some foam tape to add dimension

I started with the frames for the focal.  I cut out the pieces from brown cardstock using my cutting dies, then applied the VersaMark ink directly to the edges, making sure to cover all the intricate edges well.  Then I applied the metallic embossing powder to these edges and heat embossed them. The way the embossing powder melts, it ends up looking much more like a metal frame than if you just cut it out of metallic cardstock.

Next I cut a piece of brown cardstock to fit inside the larger frame.  Then I inked up the leafy template with some of the VersaMark Ink and pressed it onto a piece of cardstock.  I removed the template and sprinkled over the resulting design with the metallic embossing powder.  After heat embossing it, I ran my embossing pen over the edges and veins of the leaves.  This gives a combination glittery shine and watermark effect. 

Similarly for the sentiment, I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark ink and then embossed it with the metallic powder.  Next, I used the Fancy Tags Die as a stencil to draw around the inside oval and then cut it out with scissors before adding to my "metallic" tag.  I added it with a bit of foam tape for dimension, tucking some contrasting ribbon behind it, and adding a bow.  

Now that my focal was finished, I could see which of my pretty paper napkins would set it off nicely.  The trick to using printed paper napkins on cards, is to make SURE you peel off the inner white layer before gluing it to the card, and then rubbing gently (don't tear it!) but firmly when you glue it to your card.  If you don't peel off the inner white layer, the glue will loosen the layers, and over time you'll find the white layer sticking while the printed layer comes loose!  If you're careful, you can cut your napkin to the shape you want and apply a glue stick directly to the back of the napkin.  However, in this case it was much easier to apply the glue to the card, add my napkin, rub to adhere firmly in place, then trim around the card to remove the excess napkin.

So there I have one more card to give to someone to let them know how thankful I am to have them in my life.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I hope I have time to make several more!