It’s time to shine our spotlight on another talented metal stamping artist! This week we’re thrilled to introduce you to Amy Latta of One Artsy Mama. This powerhouse of creativity dishes up a cornucopia of tempting DIY on her blog One Artsy Mama every week. She’s creative, she’s generous and she keeps it real. We think you’re going to adore her! Amy took some time out of her busy schedule to answer our Five Easy Questions about metal stamping.
- When did you start making jewelry and why?
For years, I thought it would be awesome to be able to make my own jewelry, and I had even accumulated a few supplies to give it a try, but it wasn’t until my friend Jess who is a skilled jewelry maker sat down with me in April of 2011 and walked me through the basic steps of making wire loops that I really got started with the hobby. Once I got the hang of it, I wanted to try everything…every technique, every type of jewelry I could. I’d seen all kinds of gorgeous metal stamped jewelry on Pinterest and was really excited to give that a try, so for Christmas that year, I asked for a hammer, a block, some blanks, and some stamps. I started playing around with them on Christmas Day and haven’t stopped ever since! Besides the fact that it’s fun being able to create something that matches any outfit, I love being able to make very personal gifts {and pieces for myself}; things that represent families, favorite quotes, or anything meaningful.
- What is your favorite source for jewelry making inspiration?
My go-to sources for inspiration are Pinterest, Craftgawker, and other blogs. There are so many beautiful things out there, and once I see a piece I love, I like to figure out what technique someone used and then take the basic idea and adapt it to be meaningful for me. I almost never just copy another design; instead I take what I like about the inspiration piece and then build my own version.
- What advice do you have for folks just starting out?
My best advice would be to try as many techniques as you can because you never know which ones you’ll fall in love with. Also, don’t be put off by the initial investment for the tools you need because once you have them, you will use and reuse them for a very long time. Once they’re part of your stash, you can make new pieces for practically nothing, because you already have what you need. Oh, and don’t judge yourself by a standard of perfection. Those little imperfections are what give handmade pieces a beauty all their own that you won’t find in pieces that are mass-produced by machines.
- What tips or tricks can you share for successful metal stamping?
Honestly, my best tip is to use Soft Strike blanks. ImpressArt makes them out of pewter and Alkemé, and they are a real game changer. They are SO much easier to stamp on and get a deep, clean impression. You will feel much more successful using them because when you stamp on harder metals, sometimes you’ll only get one part of your design to stamp clearly, which is a real pain. Trust me. My other top tip is to always tape your blank in place before stamping. You may not think so, but it will move. Just ask Margot…she can tell you how mine went flying right there on the show floor at CHA because I didn’t have tape. True {and embarrassing} story.
- Where can our readers find you?
I would love for you to stop by my blog, One Artsy Mama, and visit me anytime! I share Honest Inspiration for Everyday Life, which includes all kinds of craft projects, kids’ projects, DIY jewelry, fashion tips, crochet tutorials, and more. I’m also on just about every social media channel out there, and I share tons of adorable photos of my five year old Little Crafter on Instagram, so you should totally follow along! I’m currently in the exciting process of designing a handbag with Galian Handbags in NYC, and I’m often asking for feedback on my Facebook page, so that would be a fun place to join the discussion too! Hope to see you there!
Website
Twitter @oneartmama
Instagram: @oneartsymama
Thank you to Amy Latta for answering our five easy questions! Take a moment to visit her on the web, she’s a powerhouse. Thank you for visiting, make sure you come back Friday for a 10 Minute DIY project that is absolutely perfect for Mother’s Day!
Cheers,
Margot and Avalon
