I can make metal stamped jewelry

DIY Runs with Scissors Bracelet

by Leave a Comment

Runs with Scissors Bracelet

We had so much fun making this Runs with Scissors Bracelet with Mark Montano’s stunning new rubber stamps line for Craffiti Direct. Mark is one of our favorite people on the planet and he’s an amazing designer. Mark and Craffiti Direct *sent us two sets of vintage scissor stamps and we immediately knew what we wanted to do with them. The graphics are so rich and detailed that they looked fabulous on the tobacco brown leather wrist band.  Plus clear stamps are so much easier to use because you can see where you’re placing the images before you stamp. This is a uni-sex idea, you can change up the text to reflect the person for whom you’re making this. We wanted a rustic, funky vibe, so this is not perfectly stamped. Feel free to stamp more perfectly if that’s your thang. It’s your thang, do whatcha wanna do.

PicMonkey Collage

Just a few caveats before we get started: You need to be sure to use a permanent ink like Ranger Archival or Staz-On. Make sure you that you file or sand the edges of your metal thoroughly if you cut it yourself. These shears are designed for use with 20 gauge or thinner sheet metal.  They won’t work on thicker metal.  Be very careful if you decide to use them as they’re sharp enough to cut through metal so they’re definitely sharp enough to do some damage to you. Being craftastrophe prone, I take my time when working with tools like these. We also provided links below to metal parts that are pre-cut so you can get right to stamping!

Level: Intermediate

Skills: rubber stamping, metal stamping, meta

You will need:

leather wristband with snaps(to make it deeper brown use leather dye)
24 Gauge Copper Sheet OR Copper Tag with Holes
Vintage Scissors Stamps
Waxed Linen Cord Black
Ranger Archival Ink Black
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
Impressart 3mm Lowercase Economy Metal Stamp Set
ImpressArt Metal Shears
ImpressArt Nylon Jaw Bracelet Bending Plier
ImpressArt 2-Hole Punch
Leather Hole Punch or Crop-A-Dile
ImpressArt Metal Stamping Hammer
Chasing Hammer
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
Impress Art Stamp Straight Tape
Black marker
Ruler
Cotton swab
Paper towel

Amazon.com Widgets

Amazon.com Widgets

1-4

Step one: If you are cutting your own piece from sheet metal or a strip, measure and mark a 1″x2 1/4″ piece. Step two: Cut carefully using the metal shears. IMPORTANT: USE A METAL FILE OR HEAVY GRIT SAND PAPER TO SAND EDGES! Step three: Mark and punch holes in all four corners with 2-hole punch. Step four: Hammer around the edges with the ball end of your chasing hammer.

5-8

Step five: Use the holes in your cut metal piece to mark the placement of the first set of holes in your leather. Punch 1/16″ holes using an awl, leather punch or Crop-a-dile.  Step six: Use permanent ink and small scissors stamps to stamp handles and blades of scissors on your leather as shown. Step seven: You are stamping three lines into the blank using 16mm stamps. I started with the top and shortest line, counting the number of letters and spaces to find the center. Then I work out from there. This first line has a space in the center. The next two lines have A LOT of letters, so I started at the far left and worked my way over. You will need two pieces of tape to secure the blank. The lines are: bleeds glitter, runs with scissors, sleeps with glue gun… I used punctuation stamps to add commas and the ellipses. Step eight: Swipe across letters with black enamel paint on a cotton swab. Let the paint sit for 30-60 seconds. Wipe off excess with a paper towel.

9-12

Step nine: Use the bracelet bending pliers to create a slight arc in your stamped metal tag. Step ten: Mark the placement of your second set of holes so that you can lace the tag to the front of the bracelet. Use a leather punch, awl or Crop-a-dile to punch 1/16″ holes.  Step eleven: Lace tag to front of bracelet with waxed linen as shown. Thread linen cord ends through the top of the bracelet.  One goes into the tag hole and leather and the other through the leather.  Then cross the threads underneath and thread each one through the hole on the opposite side. Don’t tighten then down. Do this for all four sides.  Step twelve: Knot each one securely. Cut off ends leaving a little bit of excess as in photo.

Runs with Scissors

Phew! You did it!

We hope you love this DIY Runs with Scissors Bracelet as much as we do. Check out Mark’s YouTube Channel, he dishes up TWO divine DIY videos every week. Tell ’em Madge sent ya.

Happy Stamping,
Margot and Avalon

*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 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!

(Disclosure: Blogger was provided product for post, all opinions 100% her own. Post contains affiliate links, if you click on a link and make a purchase, we get a small percentage of the sale.)

*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!

12 Terrific Metal Stamped Projects

by Leave a Comment

Twelve Terrific Metal Stamped Projects

It’s time for another round up of DIY Metal Stamped Projects for your creative inspiration! These mixed media ideas are big on kitsch and full of fun. After all, anyone can figure out how to stamp a word or a letter on a blank, why not take your metal stamped jewelry to another level? Add beads, tassels, charms, vials, rivets and decoupage! Get the scoop on these DIY delights below.

Bliss Metal Stamped Tassel Bracelets Two Text

Feel flirty and fabulous in our DIY Metal Stamped Beaded Tassel Bracelets!

Eye Candy Three

More color? More fun! Our DIY Eye Candy necklace features blanks textured with metal stamps and emblazoned with vibrant colors.

DIY Candy Stash Three

Who says candy can’t be jewelry? We surely don’t! Carry an emergency stash in this playful DIY Candy Stash Necklace. Delish!

Longitude Latitude Necklace LS Two

Commemorate your vacation with our metal stamped DIY Longitude/Latitude necklace.

Hashtag Pins 3 Final

Make some #awesome Metal Stamped Hashtag Pins and showcase your social media savvy!

Lucky Girl Hand Stamped Necklace Three Text

Feel lucky in our DIY Lucky Girl Hand Stamped Horseshoe Necklace!

Bottle Cap Necklace Two

Got ten minutes? Stamp up some DIY Bottle Cap Necklaces!

Runs with Scissors

Are you so crafty it hurts? Make our Runs With Scissors Bracelet!

Atlas Model Closer Text

Show the love for the place you call home with our DIY Metal Stamped Atlas Pendants.

Wonder Woman Cuffs copy

Feel like a super hero in our DIY Wonder Woman Inspired Cuffs.

Eyeball Text 2

Scare up some fun with our DIY Eyeball Necklace.

Bootiful DIY Bracelets

And last but surely not least, celebrate Halloween in style with our Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets.

12 Terrific Metal Stamped Projects, folks. Happy Stamping! Oh, and if you want to know what you need to get started, we have a post for that.

Cheers,
Margot

Craftsy

Shine DIY Metal Stamped Layered Necklace

by Leave a Comment

Shine Finished Four

This Shine DIY Metal Stamped Layered Necklace is simple, striking, and layered with a lot of shine and sparkle. If you’re making this, you’ll be hammering, stamping, dapping and creating a coiled dangle, lots to learn and love! When you finish, you’ve got a little bauble that reminds you to shine your little light in the darkness. How cool is that?

You will need:

Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
ImpressArt, 8 Petal Flower, Copper, 15/16″ Stamping Blank
ImpressArt, 6 Petal Flower, Nickel Silver, 1″ Stamping Blank
Preciosa Czech Fire 8mm Polished Glass Bead, Faceted Round, Full Coating Silver, 75-Pack
Beadalon 10-MM Jump Ring, Nickel Free Silver Plate
Head Pins Ball Ends Ball Tips
Head Pins Ball Ends Ball Tips
Jewelry Ball Chain Necklaces with Lobster Clasp, 18-Inch, Bright Silver
ImpressArt Uppercase Alphabet Stamps ‘Newsprint’ 1/8 Inch (3mm) – 1 Set
ImpressArt 1 Pound Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
Metal 2 Hole Punch
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
ImpressArt Chasing Hammer
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Chain Nose Pliers
Flush Cutters
Dapping Block Set
Cotton swab
Paper towel

Steps 1-4

Step one: Use the round end of your chasing hammer to strike the blanks repeatedly creating hammered texture. Step two: Stamp S H I N E on your larger blank, one letter per petal. This leaves one petal unstamped. Step three: Use two-hole punch to pierce a hole in the unstamped petal of your flower. Add a hole to one petal of the copper flower. To darken the letters, use black enamel paint. Use a cotton swab to wipe the paint into the letters. Wipe off excess with a paper towel. Step four: Place copper flower in dapping block and use corresponding punch and your brass hammer to curve the shape as in photo. Hammer flat end of punch while moving round end in form on each hit to get a rounded shape.

Steps 5-8

Step five: Make the coiled dangle. Insert head pin into bead. Grasp wire at top of bead with round nose pliers. Bend wire to a 90 degree angle. Step six: Move pliers 1/2 turn. Grasp wire and bend over top of pliers forming loop. Grasp wire tail with chain nose pliers and wrap tightly from bottom of loop to top of bead. Step seven: Nip off wire tail with wire cutters. Tuck remaining tail into bottom of coil with chain nose pliers. Step eight: Use chain and bent nose pliers to open jump ring. Thread large pendant, small pendant and bead on jump ring in that order. Close jump ring securely with tension.

Shine Finished Five

You’ll love the movement of this necklace when you wear it. The hammered metal and faceted bead give it lots of sparkle!

Shine Finished Three

That’s how you make our Shine DIY Metal Stamped Layered Necklace. Fun, fast and fabulous. You can change the words, fonts, colors of metals and beads to make this uniquely your own.  That’s the fun of metal stamping, you get to share your story. What story are you going to share?

Happy stamping,
Margot and Avalon

*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 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!

Artist Spotlight: Karen Roark

by Leave a Comment

karen roark artist spotlight

We’re shining the spotlight on another talented metal stamping artist, the delightful Karen Roark of I Always Pick the Thimble! Karen throws down a dazzling array of delicious DIY from kitting to home decor to jewelry making on her blog. She’s a former Interior Architect who switched gears to open the retail store Urban Arts and Crafts in Kansas City, Missouri. Her metal stamped designs are sensational and she dishes up some terrific tips for metal stamping success in her posts. Please stop by her blog and social sites and show her a little love. Karen was kind enough to answer our Five Easy Questions, here are her insightful answers!

believe and let go pic

(Get the tutorial for Karen’s stunning DIY Believe and Let Go bracelet!)

Five Easy Questions

When did you start making jewelry and why?

I’ve been making jewelry for close to 10 years and metal stamping for about 4. It all began when I started seeing jewelry in clothing catalogs that I thought I could make for less – and I could! Metal stamping became an extension of my jewelry making because it’s so easy to personalize and incorporate into all types of jewelry pieces.

What is your favorite source for jewelry making inspiration?

I look through Sundance catalog for inspiration. I like working with metal, leather and natural stones and many of their pieces feature those materials.

What advice do you have for folks just starting out?

A good set of ergonomic jewelry making tools can make a world of difference! They can be a little pricey, but your hands will thank you. If you work with wire or headpins, your wire-wrapping techniques will improve as well.

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

Well, first of all, it’s probably not going to be perfect, and that’s o.k.. Don’t sweat it. You don’t want it to look machine made anyway, right? That being said, I always write out what I want to stamp on paper before I start. It helps prevent misspelling “typo’s’” or I guess in this case “stampo’s”! Before stamping, I draw light pencil lines and spacing marks on the metal pendants to help with alignment. Also, don’t be afraid to use the front and back of your “oops” pendants for practice. I will help increase your confidence before starting. The rest just takes a little practice.

Where can our readers find you?

I Always Pick the Thimble

Pinterest

Google+

Twitter

Urban Arts + Crafts Facebook

Big love to Karen Roark for stopping by and sharing some great advice! Check back Friday for some tips and techniques with a super simple DIY! We’re working on all kinds of good stuff behind the scenes, so stay tuned.

Happy Stamping,
Margot and Avalon

Wire Heart Earrings

by Leave a Comment

Wire Heart Earrings

This week, we’re having more fun with wire making a pretty pair of Anatomical Wire Heart Earrings using 20 and 24 gauge Beadalon German Style Wire. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and these will look beautiful under candlelight or anytime you want to shine. We love working with this wire because it’s not dead soft like aluminum and copper, so it holds a shape more readily and work hardens very easily. Plus you can’t beat the high shine of the silver plating on this wire.

I’ve been having a creative dialog with my friend Kathy Cano Murillo, check out her stunning soldered hammered heart necklace that inspired me to make these earrings!

Watch the video and then grab the materials and step by step instructions below!

Materials (These are affiliate links, if you click on a link and make a purchase we get a small percentage of the sale.)
2 4″ lengths Beadalon German Style Wire, Round, Silver Plated, 20 gauge
2 5″ lengths German Style Wire, Round, Silver Plated, 24 gauge
6 Czech Fire-Polished Faceted Glass Beads Round 3mm Silver Metallic
Beadalon Steel Bench Block
1″ diameter dowel
Beadalon Nylon Jaw Pliers
Beadalon Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers, Flush Cutter, Flat Nose Pliers (You can find them all in this Beadalon 5-Piece Tool Kit
Ruler

Wire Heart Earrings Instructions

1. Cut two 4″ lengths of 20 gauge wire. Be sure to cut to the flush or flat end of the flush cutters. Go back and cut both ends, you may have to nip off the pointy side on one end to make both ends flush.
2. Measure to the 1.5″ mark and use flat nose pliers to make a sharp angled bend in the wire.
3. Form the shorter wire end around your dowel to make an arc. Repeat with the opposite end.
4. Grasp the longer end of your wire with the end of your round nose pliers. Turn a small loop working in the direction of the arc.
5. Use the dowel and your fingers to bend the end into the heart shape, see photo above.
6. Use the flat end of your chasing hammer to flatten the wire hearts. You need to make a left and a right earring, so hammer on the opposite side of each heart shape. Work only on the longer side of the wire and at the top of the wire that will slide into your ear.
7. Use the round end of your chasing hammer to add some texture.
8. Cut a 5″ length of 24 gauge wire. Wrap tightly around the outer upper edge of the heart shape three times.
9. Slide a bead on the wire, wrap once. Repeat two more times for a total of three beads.
10. Use flat nose pliers to tighten up the top and bottom wraps.
11. Cut off excess wires at top and bottom.
12. Use chain nose pliers to tuck wires under.
13. Repeat for second earring. Make a left and a right earring, wrapping the beads to the front of each  hammered heart, so they will be facing forward in the ear when worn. See photo!
14. BONUS TIP! Insert wire ends into a Bur Cup Wire Rounder tool to round them and make them less sharp. This makes it easier to slide them into your piercings.

Wire Heart Earrings Two

Wire Heart Earrings Three

That’s it, you made your own pair of Anatomical Wire Heart Earrings! Fun, fast, and fabulous! And you can say you made it yourself. If you enjoy our videos and tutorials, we’d LOVE it if you subscribe to our YouTube Channel

and come back soon!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon