Repujado finished art work

STREAM Activity: Repujado/Metal Embossing

Metal, Magic, and Tradition!

Activity best for children ages four and up

Did you know you can make art with tin cans? To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re learning about a traditional craft from Mexico called repujado, or metal embossing. Artists press beautiful patterns into soft metal and then decorate them with bright, bold colors that shimmer in the light. You might even see embossed tin stars, hearts, or ornaments at festivals and markets in Mexico.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the history and culture of Mexican Americans in the United States. By learning about these traditions and making our own embossed art, we celebrate creativity, culture and stories that connect us all.

Today, we’ll use aluminum foil to create our very own embossed designs, just like our friends in Mexico might make for a celebration!

VOCABULARY

  • Repujado: The Spanish word for metal embossing, a technique where artists press shapes and patterns into tin or other soft metals.

  • Embossing: Making a raised design on a surface by pressing from the back.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What shapes or patterns do you want to press into your metal art?

  • How do the shiny colors make your art stand out?

MATERIALS

  • Aluminum foil

  • Pipe cleaner

  • Scissors

  • Acrylic/Paint markers

  • Ball-point pen

  • Paper plate

  • Tape

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Create a shape with your pipe cleaner! This will be the shape our aluminum foil will take on.

Pipe cleaner heart

STEP 2

Tape your pipe cleaner shape to the paper plate.

Glue pipe cleaner to plate

STEP 3

Now, cover your pipe cleaner design and paper plate with aluminum foil.

Cover your paper plate in aluminum

STEP 4

To make your shape appear in the aluminum foil, use your finger to trace along the edges of your design.

Outline shape

STEP 5

Finish off your repujado or metal-embossed artwork by adding fun designs with markers on the foil.

Add marker designs