I can make metal stamped jewelry

Artist Spotlight: Barbe Saint John

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Artist Spotlight Barbe SaintJohn

Meet metal smith and jewelry artist Barbe Saint John! Barbe has recently launched a new line of mid-century modern inspired jewelry that is exceptional in design and artistry. Her former line, Saints and Sinners was on the cutting edge of the mixed media/assemblage jewelry trend. We’ve been fans of her work for years and we were tickled pink when she agreed to answer our Five Easy Questions! Here are here insightful replies!

When did you start making jewelry and why?

I got started being creative at an early age-I was making very simple Barbie dresses with my Mom when I was 4, and my Grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 5. My Grandmother was very into fashion and jewelry. It was her love of adornment that got me interested. She would give me her broken bead necklaces to string my own, and brought me a bead loom back from Arizona when I was about 8 yrs old. I’ve been making jewelry ever since.

What is your favorite source for jewelry making inspiration?

I have a great deal of diverse interests and hobbies so those are often my main inspirations. I currently have two lines of work. With my mixed media jewelry and art; my core inspirations are vintage fashions, science, archeology, Egyptology, and all things paranormal, weird or a bit mad. On the other hand, my modern jewelry line is inspired by mid-century art, artists and pop culture.

What advice do you have for folks just starting out?

First and foremost-buy the best tools you can afford. You don’t have to immediately invest in jeweler quality tools, but having good quality/mid-price range tools will save you frustration. Also, they will last you for years and you can slowly upgrade them to better tools over time. Also, practice and play with your materials often! Students and beginners get upset they didn’t make a “perfect” piece on their first try. It’s by practicing and playing, that you learn the skills and dexterity needed for jewelry making and you also will start to hone your own style/voice that way too.

What tips or tricks can you share for successful metal stamping?

The Stamp Straight Tape""” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Stamp Straight Tape has been a godsend for me!! I use to use multiple layers of duct tape, but that’s time consuming and leaves gummy residue on your block. Stamp Straight tape is thick enough you can “feel” it when you position your stamp and you don’t have to layer it. It’s sticky enough to hold but doesn’t leave a gummy residue on your block or blank. Also-practice makes perfect! Save your blanks and get a small sheet of 22g copper from a hobby or craft store. Lay down a few strips of Stamp Straight Tape and start hammering. You’ll quickly learn how to feel for the tape with your stamp, what the best distance between letters is, etc.

Where can our readers find you?

You can find me online at my website, blog, Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Modern Metal’s Pinterest.

Take a moment to visit Barbe Saint John and show her a little love. I guarantee you are going to be impressed with her work!  Tune in Monday for a new DIY metal stamping tutorial!

Happy Stamping,
Margot and Avalon

(*This post contains an affiliate link, if you click on the link and make a purchase we get a small percentage of the sale.)

Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets

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Bootiful DIY Bracelets

I guess it’s obvious that I really love Hallowe’en. When I saw these new SoftStrike pewter cubes from ImpressArt, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. You can stamp on all four sides! How cool is that?! Write words, dates, pictograms…they open up a whole new dimension in metal stamping…literally! I dug through my bead stash to find fall friendly color combos for these Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets. You can use any beads you like here and of course, any words. I plan to wear this trio together. Scare up a wrist full for you or your family and friends!

Bootiful Two Text

What you need:

Beads
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
ImpressArt SoftStrike Small Cubes
14mm Lobster Clasp
2 6mm Jump Rings, Silver Plate
2 Crimp Tubes
Beadalon 19-Strand .015-Inch Wire
Impressart 1/2 Lb Brass Hammer
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
ImpressArt Premium Newsprint Uppercase Letter Stamps
Beadalon Bead Crimp Tool, Standard
Beadalon Flush Cutter
Beadalon Chain Nose Pliers
Bead Board
Cotton Swab
Paper Towel

Amazon.com Widgets

Amazon.com Widgets

Boo-tiful Bracelets Steps

Step one: Stamp letters on your cubes. You don’t have to hit these very hard, too much pressure and you may mar your metal. Stamp letter on all four sides. Use enamel paint to ink letters, swipe on with a cotton swab and wipe off with a paper towel. This is a little messy, so work where you don’t have to worry about making a mess!  Step two: Measure your wrist. Use a bead board to lay out your beads, leave enough room for the clasp and jump ring in your plan so your bracelet isn’t too big. You don’t want to loose it! Cut wire with about 2″ extra. Thread it into the crimp tube, the clasp and back into the crimp tube. The loop should be about 1/4″, too small and it will create friction when you wear the bracelet and this will begin to cut the wire. Step three: Make sure the wires are uncrossed. Compress the tube with the front oval section of the pliers. This makes the round tube into an oval, so it is easier to crimp. Move tube back to the heart shaped section of the pliers. Compress the tube, separating the wires into separate openings. It should look like a heart! Face the smooth side of the crimped tube towards the jaw of your crimp pliers and in the front oval opening. Press the ends together tightly. Check to be sure it is secured. Cut off the wire tail. The key to beading is making sure your wire fills the holes in the beads, this is why I don’t recommend threading the tail into the beads, if you can do that then your wire is too thin. Adjust the wire thickness you use to fill your beads! Now you can bead! Step four: String your beads on the wire. When you reach the final bead, slide a crimp tube on around a jump ring like you did at the start. Before you crimp, attach the clasp to the jump ring. This will keep your bracelet rounded to allow for play between the beads. This keeps it from being to stiff and breaking later. Use chain nose pliers to pull the wire through the crimp tube. Crimp using the same steps from before. Cut excess wire.  Make more!

Bootiful One

How about a little candy corn inspiration?

Bootiful Four

Or maybe Indian corn? Yup, I’m feeling corny, folks. I made a little boo boo here…do you see it? Oh well, pobody’s nerfect.

Bootiful Three

That’s it! If you make some Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets, we’d love to see them! Happy Hallowe’en!

Cheers,
Madge

*DIY Project Policy: Our tutorials are meant for your creative inspiration. Feel free to make and gift or wear these designs. Please make sure that you give credit to us as the designer if you make and share these designs on your blog or social sites. Please do not make and sell copies of our designs or sell them as kits. Please do not teach these designs as classes for profit. This is how we make our living and we ask that you respect our creativity and the time it takes to design, photograph and write these free tutorials. You may use a single photograph from each project online in blog round-ups or blog posts ONLY if you include a direct link back to our tutorial. Any use of these designs for retail sale for profit online in places like Etsy or eBay or in retail bricks and mortar, flea markets or outdoor fairs is not permitted. Thank you!

DIY Tassel and Stamped Charm Bracelets

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Bliss Metal Stamped Tassel Bracelets Two Text

Just in time for warmer weather, pretty beaded bracelets get a kicky update with stamped charms and handmade tassels. Make your own DIY Tassel and Stamped Charm Bracelets in an array of colors and you’ll be in style bliss. We’re loving the Boho appeal here, try changing up the beads, colors and message to suit your own style. Speaking of which, how would you style these? We’d love to know!  Big love to the amazingly talented Ms. Pattie Wilkinson for sending us her fabulous *PattieWack tassel tools!  They make quick and easy work of making gorgeous tassels. 

You will need:

ImpressArt, Pewter Stamping Blanks, River Stone, 3/4″
3-4mm Swarovski Crystal Beads
4mm gemstone beads
3-4mm Freshwater Pearls
Beadalon 19-Strand Bead Stringing Wire, 0.018
Beadalon Toggle Clasps Small Silver Plated
2 Tube Crimp, Silver -2x2mm
3 Beadalon Jump Rings 6mm Silver Plated
Beadalon 10mm Jump Ring Silver Plated
German Style Wire, Round, Silver Plated, 24 gauge
Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons Yarn, Brights
Folk Art Enamel 2-Ounce Acrylic Paint
ImpressArt Newsprint Lowercase Alphabet Metal Stamps
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
Pattiewack Designs Mini Tassel Maker
ImpressArt Chain Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Bent Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Flush Cutters
Beadalon Beading Scissors

Tassell Bracelet 1-4

One: Tape blank to bench block. Stamp ‘bliss’, alternating placement of letters. Design tip: Start with the ‘i’ in the center and work to both sides. Two: Wipe multi-surface paint on blank. Wipe paint from surface. Three: Place beads on board in a pattern, build beads up to numbers on side to fit your wrist. Add the two numbers together to get the finished length in inches. Our bracelet is 7″ including the clasp. Four: Thread wire into crimp bead. Thread wire back through clasp end and back into crimp tube. Hold wires uncrossed to crimp. Check out this video to learn how to crimp correctly!

Tassell Bracelet 5-8

Five: Finish bracelet with crimp bead attached to jump ring. Design tip: Make sure bracelet is rounded to allow a little space between your beads, this keeps the bracelet from being too stiff when worn. Six: Attach finished bracelet to bar side of toggle clasp with a second jump ring. This makes it easy for the bar to fit into the circle element of the clasp. Seven: Get your yarn and mini-tassell tool ready! Eight: Wrap the yarn around the second notch on the tassel tool as in photo.

Tassell Bracelet 9-12

Nine: Follow instructions for tassel tool.  Instead of using yarn to tie off the top and bottom, we’re using a large jump ring and wire. Thread jump ring into top of tassel. Wrap wire tightly several times around center of tassel.  Cut bottom of tassel with scissors into fringe. Side tassel from tool. Use scissors to even tassel ends. Ten: Finish wrapping tassel tightly with wire, cut off excess. Tuck ends into tassel with chain nose pliers. Eleven: Attach tassel and tool to circle side of toggle using a smaller jump ring as in picture. Twelve: Make more!

DIY Tassel and Stamped Charm Bracelet LS Text

That’s it, fun, fast and fabulous DIY Tassel and Stamped Charm Bracelets, make an arm full!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

FTC DISCLOSURE: Bloggers were provided with samples for use in this project.  All opinions are 100% their own!

*DIY Project Policy: Our tutorials are meant for your creative inspiration. Feel free to make and gift or wear these designs. Please make sure that you give credit to us as the designer if you make and share these designs on your blog or social sites. Please do not make and sell copies of our designs or sell them as kits. Please do not teach these designs as classes for profit. This is how we make our living and we ask that you respect our creativity and the time it takes to design, photograph and write these free tutorials. You may use a single photograph from each project online in blog round-ups or blog posts if you include a direct link back to our tutorial. Any use of these designs for retail sale for profit online in places like Etsy or eBay or in retail bricks and mortar, flea markets or outdoor fairs is not permitted. Thank you!

DIY Atlas Pendants

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DIY Atlas Pendants

No matter where you roam, home is where your heart is. Show your love for the place you call home with these DIY Atlas Pendants. We used vintage atlas pages, you can find these at thrift stores, flea markets or yard sales. Or you could print out an image of the place you call home on a map to size. Add a stamped metal charm, tiny paper heart and some decoupage medium and you can wear your heart around your neck any time you feel a little homesick.  (Want to get started metal stamping? We’re GIVING AWAY a kit with everything you need to get started this week!)

Materials:

1.5″ acrylic circle pendant
1/5″ punched atlas page circle
Red card stock
Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage Glossy
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
Brass Heart Stamping Blank
Beacon Zip Dry Paper Glue
Large Circle Punch
10mm Silver Tone Jump Ring
Ball Chain with Connector
1/16″ Metal Stamp Uppercase Letters
Awl
ImpressArt Brass Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
Impress Art Stamp Straight Tape
Toothpick
Cotton swab
Paper towel

Amazon.com Widgets

Amazon.com Widgets

Atlas Steps

Step one: Tape your blank to your bench block. Slide stamps down to top of tape, start in center and stamp to edges. The letter ‘m’ should be in the center because you’re adding a period. Use an awl or punctuation stamp to add the period. Step two: Dab paint into letters. Let paint set for 30-40 seconds. Wipe off excess on surface. Step three: Punch or cut the atlas circle to fit pendant. Fold red card stock and use small scissors to hand cut tiny heart. Step four: Use a toothpick to apply a small dab of paper glue to back of heart. Press heart on to the area of atlas you want to highlight. Allow to dry. Step five: Add a thin layer of decoupage medium to back of pendant and front of atlas paper. Press together, gently pressing out any bubbles with fingertips. Allow to dry, paint a second coat of decoupage medium. Allow this to dry overnight. Step six: Use chain nose pliers to connect stamped pendant to acrylic pendant. Attach to your ball chain.

Atlas Model Closer Text

These are simple to make and fun to wear. They make fabulous gifts for students heading off to college! Make a map full of DIY Atlas Pendants for family and friends. We’d love to know where you hang your heart, tell us in the comments.

Atlas Pendants Take Two

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

10 Minute Craft: Queen Bee Earrings

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Queen Bee Earrings One

Got ten minutes? Then you’ve got enough time to make these punny earrings and show ’em who’s Queen Bee. Heck, you can make up a whole hive’s worth! In fact, you can make these Queen Bee Earrings in just three easy steps, just stamp, ink, connect and wear! Even the busiest gal has time for that. And don’t be afraid, the new Soft Strike pewter stamping blanks from ImpressArt make it easy to make a great first impression. You got this!

What you need:

2 ImpressArt Stamping Blank Washer, 15/16-Inch, Pewter
2 Fine Silver Plated Pewter Small Honey Bee Charms
2 Beadalon 10-MM Jump Ring, Silver Plated
2 Beadalon Dapped and Spring Ear Wire, Silver Plated
ImpressArt Newsprint Stamps in Lowercase and Uppercase
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
ImpressArt Bent Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Chain Nose Pliers
Cotton swab
Paper towel

Steps 1-4

Step one: Stamp ‘Q u e e n’ on each blank. Start at the bottom center with the letter ‘e’ and work up each side, spacing your letters evenly as in photo. Step two: Use cotton swab to dab ink into letters. Wipe excess off of surface with paper towel, leaving ink in the stamped areas. Step three: Connect the washer, charm and ear wire in that order to a 10mm jump ring using the bent and chain nose pliers. You may need to gently turn the loop at the bottom of your ear wire so they hang forward. Step four: Wear them with pride because you made them!

“You can call me Queen Bee,
and baby I’ll rule, I’ll rule,
let me live that fantasy.”
Lorde

Queen Bee Earrings Three

These Queen Bee Earrings would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift too, I’m just sayin’.

Cheers,
Madge

*DIY Project Policy: Our tutorials are meant for your creative inspiration. Feel free to make and gift or wear these designs. Please make sure that you give credit to us as the designer if you make and share these designs on your blog or social sites. Please do not make and sell copies of our designs or sell them as kits. Please do not teach these designs as classes for profit. This is how we make our living and we ask that you respect our creativity and the time it takes to design, photograph and write these free tutorials. You may use a single photograph from each project online in blog round-ups or blog posts ONLY if you include a direct link back to our tutorial. Any use of these designs for retail sale for profit online in places like Etsy or eBay or in retail bricks and mortar, flea markets or outdoor fairs is not permitted. Thank you!

(FTC DISCLOSURE: *This post contains affiliate links, if you click on a link and make a purchase we get a small percentage of the sale. The blogger is employed by ImpressArt, but this is her personal blog. All opinions are 100% her own!)