Lisa's Birthday Present & Scrap For Help "Card"

My friend Lisa's birthday has rolled around again and I figured I'd make her something out of metal. She is one of the strongest woman I know and runs a scrap metal business. So, my "card" had to be symbolic of her strengths and also interests!

If you wander into her office, the ceiling is punched tin in black with a sparkly chandelier. I have threatened to wander over at some point and take photos. She also works at home so quite often listens to a skype rant about this or that and normally "gets it" because business is the same whether it's metal or gas.

A bit about my process since Shirley saw Lisa's Card in person and asked. I started with a cardboard base that fit into this little black frame that was given to me by Lisa from Kansas at You Made me Ink. There is also a challenge up at Scrap for Help that requires cardboard to be used in the making of your project. Since I covered it COMPLETELY, I wanted to show that I did indeed start with some. Mine was ripped off a notepad I believe.

I am also linking this up to the last Gingersnap Creations Challenge to use Copper, Ginger or Rust in your project. Since I used a sheet of REAL COPPER, I think this qualifies!

And, used up some random letters I had that were thicker. It was great to use up some extra letters since I have reached the end of that sticker sheet as far as titles go.

I then laid down a strip of copper to cover the letters and used the end of a paint brush to push the copper into the gaps.

Here is a photo of the whole board covered and pre-paint.

I followed a similar process for the numbers. I then embossed strips of the copper to get the wood grain and the scallop in the center.

Here is another photo of the Tim Holtz book plate and how the color worked it's way into the copper embossing. 

And did you spy my little thread wheels? I went through some older stash and found two really old matching wood spools that I had and used those as "wheels" to elevate the box/card.

Now, a quick word about style. This was a bit of a challenge for me as it's not normally my comfort zone. So, randomly I asked THE MAN what he thought of it. I do know better.

He said:  Well, what does it say?

Then I realized he was trying to read some kind of meaning out of the random numbers and letters.

Well, it implies HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lisa!! ;-)