Hey friends, I’ve got a special treat for you today! Are you ready for a great giveaway for a metal stamping starter kit from today’s sponsor, Beaducation.com? How about some fun metal stamping inspiration? How about a copy of my new book, DIY Stamped Metal Jewelry? HOW ABOUT WE JUST GET STARTED! Yes? Yes!
As you can see, I’ve been playing around with some patterns and design! This was a fun piece to make – a little bit sweet, a little bit sassy, perfect for Halloween but not over-the-top… For today’s piece I’m using a basic economy font (just like what’s included in today’s giveaway) and two Beaducation.com design stamps that they sent me to test out. I’ll leave links below to many of the supplies I used in case you’d like to check them out for yourself or to do some shopping!
For today’s project you will need:
- 3/32″ Letter Stamps, Steel Block, Stamping Tape – all included in the Metal Stamping Starter Kit
- 1 lb. Brass Hammer
- Acrylic Paint Dabber or a Sharpie Marker and polishing cloth (the marker and cloth is included with the starter kit)
- 3/4″ Pewter Circle Blank
- Tiny Fat Lined Heart Stamp
- Triangle Curve Design Stamp
- 3/8″ Circle Paper Punch
- Optional – Awl or period stamp
- Optional – 3.7 mm Eyelet and Eyelet Setting Tool (You may also need to use the hole punch hand pliers, included in the kit, to set an eyelet)
- Chain Nose Pliers
- Round Nose Pliers
- Flush Cutters
- Jewelry Head Pin
- 6mm faceted crystal rondelle bead
- 3mm faceted crystal rondelle bead
- 2 – 8mm jump rings
- 18-30″ necklace chain (depending on your preference – I typically use 26″)
- This tutorial and/or my new book, DIY Metal Stamped Jewelry!
So, let’s dig into the design stamps. I think we can all agree that the best part about metal stamping is making beautifully personalized pieces. But now that stamping has been hot for a few years, new trends are emerging with artisan blanks and new designs. It’s increasingly popular to stamp designs on basic blanks, but I know that can be challenging for new stampers! I’ve simplified today’s project with a quick design hack using stamping tape and a 3/8″ circle paper punch.
New stampers can benefit a LOT from using stamping tape – it helps you align your letters vertically. You simply drag the stamp very gently downward to the edge of the tape, and when the bottom of the letter hits the tape, you’ll feel it stop.
But stamping on the round? Well, that’s an entirely different challenge! I did test the triangle curve and found that it very closely matches a 3/8″ round curve. So I used my hole punch on the tape and placed it in the center, giving me an instant guide for stamping my curved triangle stamp in a near-perfect circle. (I say near-perfect because no matter how experienced you are, hand stamping will always produce a few imperfections. We call them charming and unique.)
After stamping my circle, I added tiny fat hearts around the perimeter of the blank and stamped “MAD LOVE” in the center with 3/32″ economy stamps. I love the sentiment for year-round wear, but the “madness” aspect makes it an especially fun Halloween piece, too!
I prefer to use enamels and acrylic paint over Sharpie markers to darken my impressions, but it’s simply a matter of personal preference – all methods work well! If you use the sharpie to darken your piece, you’ll need to polish away the excess ink. With enamels or acrylic, the excess can simply be wiped away with a paper towel.
You can see above that my message was slightly high on the center of the blank. This happens! I’m using tools that are new or lesser-used in my collection, and each stamp or font you work with will have its own best uses. But I’ll let you in on a little secret that I use to fill gaps and centering issues: A few well-placed dots with an awl look decorative and they help to balance the piece. You’ll see below exactly what I mean!
Now, my favorite metal to stamp on is pewter. It’s heavy and substantial, and it’s also soft and takes a great impression. Pewter is used in some beautiful artisan blanks because it can handle the additional detail that basic metals like aluminum cannot. But BECAUSE it’s so soft, you may notice that the foce of your stamps can actually cause misshapen blanks. The hearts I added along the edges cause my circle to look slight octagonal, and the shift of the metal cause my hole to become a little squashed.
This is not a bad thing, and it’s not a flaw! It’s a natural effect of displacing metal with stamps. But the perfectionist in me wanted that top hole to be round, so I set an eyelet in the hole using an eyelet settling tool. This step is completely optional! It’s simply something I like to do to make a hole look a little more finished.
Now that the star of my piece was ready to go, I still wanted to add a little sparkle. I threaded a 3mm and 6mm bead onto a jewelry head pin, wrapped the pin around my round nose pliers, and wrapped the wire end in coils between the loop I created and the top of the beads. This is a basic wire wrapped charm and I use the technique in many (maybe most!) of my favorite designs.
Finally, I added jump rings to both the stamped pendant and the beaded charm, and strung them on a 26″ necklace chain, which is my favorite length at the moment. It hits near the bottom of the rib cage for most women, but of course it will depend on your stature and on your personal preferences! You can make this necklace as long or as short as you like.
Bottom line about trying out a few Beaducation.com products: there are some great features. The selection of blanks is enormous, and you can find some great artisan designs within ALL the metal families, not just the pewter. The aluminum blanks they sent had a thin plastic coating that you can remove so that your blank isn’t scratched before you even begin! They carry brands I have used for years, and they also have a lot of great original designs as well – including many stamps made in the USA. They’ve got their finger on the pulse for what is new and hot in DIY jewelry, and the designs I tried have great detail (just look at those clear lines inside the tiny fat hearts)!
And now, for the best part – who wants to get started stamping?
Beaducation is sponsoring a metal stamping starter kit, and I’m throwing in a copy of my new book as a bonus! (Hint: you’ll see a few Beaducation originals among my designs!) Anyone with a U.S. street address 18 or older may enter to win – simply comment below telling me what you love most about stamped metal jewelry. (You can also tweet the message in the Rafflecopter widget for extra chances to win!) And of course, there’s no purchase necessary, void where prohibited. The widget below will walk you throw how to claim your entry.
Thanks for joining me to check out today’s project, to learn more about metal stamping, and to get entered to win! Good luck and I’ll see you guys again soon!
nice post
wow looking good
Great work. I really appreciate the insight here in this post and confident it’s going to be helpful to me and many others. Thanks for sharing all the information and tips.
I just recently came up your blog and love it! There is so much I want to try to do myself after seeing what bautiful things you’re making.
Now I just decided to get this Stamping starter kit from my husband for Christmas. But of course if I win it here, might be even better. Coming with your book, a super bonus! I might be lucky! ;O)
I would love to win this – I love making jewelry and I want to get stamping!
Unllparleaed accuracy, unequivocal clarity, and undeniable importance!
That’s way more clever than I was expecting. Thanks!
I have been looking at these for a while now on your blog, and it would be fab to win! And plus, a book from the woman herself! <3
Hey Jennifer – thanks so much and congrats! Rafflecopter picked you as the winner. Be on the lookout for my email to claim your prize!
I am seriously the biggest jewelry fanatic and no one would appreciate this kit more than me! ;)
I have never tried hand-stamping jewelry. This looks like a wonderful craft to learn, and your book and this kit are just what I need to do that! Thanks and God bless!
I have only recently tried making my own jewelry. I would love this set as it would give me a chance to try out a new-to-me aspect of jewelry making!
I’ve done a little hand stamping on metal, but would love to try it out on jewelry! Your book looks very straightforward and easy to use.
What a pretty piece. I want to try this.
I’ve been curious to try metal stamping, and have purchased a few items to stamp but no items to stamp with. Partly time and partly finding quality tools! Thanks :)
I would love to start making one of a kind gifts with stamping.
Hey Adrianne, What a sweet gift offering! I would love to adventure into stamping. I have looked at the tools before, but was always a bit confused about the how to and knowing exactly what would be needed. I would love the opportunity to learn. I have the hope of using the skill to teach others stamping. One of my friends was given a large number of old spoons, What a perfect combination! Thank you for all your delightful crafting suggesions and directions. You are a blessing.
Thank you for another invtamroife web site. Where else could I get that type of information written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such info.
I’m a very beginner stamper–but I’ve been learning from your tutorials! I love the idea of the giveaway!
I would love to win this! I’ve always wanted to try metal stamping and I really enjoy all of the ideas that you share! Thank you!
I love that metal stamping can be so personalized. It’s a great way to show your unique style.
You are so talented. I have the letter stamp set and have only stamped keys so far. I think your projects look so happy and handmade – not like impersonal machine made items. Thank you for the pictures and motivation to try some cool ideas and the great giveaway.
To do some hand stamping has been on my want to do list!! Awesome necklace! thank you!
This would be a great addition to have..I love metal stamping! But I do have a question. Please explain a little more how you stamped the circle with your circle punch for a guideline. I’m not understanding that. It was a paper punch???? Thank you.
Have never stamped. Would love to learn.
My daughter is in love with Disney quote jewelry so I would love to try stamping our own!
Would looove to win this Kit & your Book!! My Daughter loves making jewelry & is teaching me!! This would be something else we could do together!! Thank you for the chance to win!! :)!
so cute! I would love to metal stamp! Yes, the stamps are expensive, this would be great!
I love the stamped projects that you display and always with I could make some, but have not been able to afford the stamps and products needed. This would be great to win.
I would love to make personalized gifts with this, and I love the look of stamped jewelry! The projects in the book look awesome! Thanks for the chance to win!
I am always thinking about creating cuffs with stamped messages…i know that winning this giveaway will give me the boost I need to get started!pick me!
I would enjoy winning because this would be a great project for my students. I teach Middle School students with special needs. This would be so much fun for them to stamp a favorite word on a tag that they could then wear.
I would love to win this giveaway because I’ve always wanted to try stampeded but haven’t had the tools. The design possibilities are endless!
Angi Mullis
Dj2isme@aol.com
I have to say that I view you as something like the “MacGiver” of crafting. I am constantly impressed by all that you achieve while being a busy mom, and now, two books! I could easily go out and purchase the supplies in the starter kit and your book, but it would be more special to receive them from you. Every time that I used the tools and the book, I would be reminded of someone who has really inspired me in so many cheerful ways. I enjoy your newsletters and wish you the best in all your endeavors!
I really enjoy learning new crafts. I’d love to learn to stamp metal so I could make unique gifts, or maybe even sell some to help us stay afloat. Thank you!
I’ve seen several of your projects where you have used metal stamping and found them attractive.
It would be amazing to be able to try it myself. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I love your crafts and I think this would be Great to personalize peoples jewelry with I’ve been following you for awhile now I get all your DYI’s and think this would be fun to learn.
I love the idea of making ooak gifts. Stamping seems to naturally make everything unique. It’s a craft I’d love to learn. :D
I would love to have this for my gift giving. I am making personal ornaments this year.
I love making personal gifts. I would love to win your book. I’m a novice at stamping but have fallen in love with the technique.
wow what a nice give away thank you for giving me a chance to win i need to get one of these kits to get started
I’m always amazed at the new and creative ways to do metal stamping that you feature. I would love an opportunity to win this set and try out these techniques. It would be a great way to do projects and gifts with my little girl too!
I love metal stamping because everything is unique, whether I want it to be or not!
What I love most about metal stamped jewelry is the limitless creativity it allows you to express! (And you can never have too many font sets or books for inspiration…)
I would love to learn how to stamp with my girls! This would be the perfect motivation to start a new hobby of stamping. Thanks for the chance!
Such a great little piece! I love all the detail that went into it. Was always curious how to get such level stamping. I’d love a shot at winning these supplies. Thanks for your great tutorials!
I would like to win because I would love to add metal stamping to my repertoire..
I’d like to win because I love making my own jewelry, and this would be so awesome!