Experiment on some pieces of copper before creating your final piece. You might like the way it embosses with a pointier pencil or a pen or even a wooden skewer. You may like the “back” or “front” of your design better. Emboss a combination of back and front like I did. This project is not the simplest but the results are worth it. Cut copper can be VERY SHARP, so please be careful. Have fun! Step by Step below.
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| Facci Designs Copper Coaster DIY step by step |
• Air Dry Clay (I used Crayola Air-Dry Clay in white)
• Toothpick
• Ruler
• Craft blade or kitchen knife
• Designs printed out size of coaster
• Tape
• 36 Gauge copper sheet* (purchased online at Whimsie.com) or in craft stores.
• Scissor
• Dull pencil
• Decorative Tacks
• Duct Tape
• Felt
*Be very careful, cutting and cut copper is sharp!
1. Flatten out your clay to about a 1/4”- 3/8” thickness with your hand or rolling pin. With your ruler and knife, cut your coaster to size. I cut mine at 3.5 x 3.5. At 1/2” from each corner, create your nail hole by inserting a toothpick. Let coaster dry completely. This can take anywhere up to 2 days.
2. Gather your supplies. Print out your designs in actual size. If you want to do an initial, print it out backwards.
3. Cut your copper out at least 1” larger than the coaster. Place your air dried coaster in center of copper and trace around edge with your dull pencil. (this will help you keep your designs within the square and also help to bend it around the coaster later on.) Tape your design onto copper.
4. With your dull pencil, start to trace your design, adding some pressure to make sure you emboss the copper.
5. I traced the main parts of the flower and leaves...
6....then turned it over to add the veins to the flowers. Experiment and have fun!
7. On the back of my design, I added more pressure to the leaves so they would pop.
8. Here is the monogram version where I added more pressure to the front of the coaster.
9. Once finished, cut each corner at an angle. see picture
10. Fold back and trim. Be careful of sharp copper.
11. Flatten out folded pieces with the edge of your pencil.
12. Now measure 1/2” from each corner and with a pointy tool or the tip of the scissor, create your hole for your tacks.
13. Place your coaster in center of copper, fold edges over and tape them down. I tried to use glue, but found tape was just better and easier.
Glue some felt to the bottom so it doesn’t scratch your surface. Insert your tacks. You may need to add a little glue. (These are mostly decorative.)
14. Your copper coasters will patina over time but if you want to hurry up the process. Just spray with an equal amount of salt and vinegar and let sit for a day. Wipe off and see if you like the color. Spray again for a darker patina.
The edges of the corners of your coaster will be sharp. Dull them down with the edge of your pencil or scissor.
TIPS:
• Try adding dots to your coaster with the tip of your pencil. I love the way they look in groups. This works perfectly for the center of your flower or to fill in a lot of space with texture.
• Emboss the sides of your coaster. Try dots or vertical strips. Hey, write out a name, a message or a date on the side.
• You could use a thick cardboard inside instead of clay which will create a much, much lighter coaster.
• Try using different decorative tacks, screws or nails or nothing.
• Make it even more personal. Have your child write out his dad’s name and emboss it onto the copper.
