I can make metal stamped jewelry

Tag: DIY metal stamped jewelry

Metal Stamping Artist Spotlight: Erin Prais-Hintz

Today we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of our favorite jewelry designers, Erin Prais-Hintz. We’ll be introducing you to more jewelry artists over the coming months and they’ve all got their own spin on metal stamping and design. Erin was kind enough to agree to answer our “Five Easy Questions” and share some of her stunning jewelry designs with us. Without further ado, here’s Erin!

1. When did you start making jewelry and why?

I like to say that I started with my first macaroni necklace. But truthfully I dabbled in it from college on. I didn’t discover the joy of designing jewelry until my college roommate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. I had a vision of a charm bracelet with healing gemstones, each telling a story. I did the research and bought the best stones I could find, then I proceeded to wire wrap each stone to that bracelet chain. By the end I had wrapped about 120 gemstones and the last was far superior to the first! It was then that I realized that I loved to tell the unique story of the wearer through my artisan designs. I believe that life is too short to eat cheap chocolate, drink bad wine or wear department store jewelry. When you can tell your story through your adornments, you create a style all your own.

2. What is your favorite source for jewelry making inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere! It might be the swirls on my bedspread, the frost on my windows, the colors of a sunset, or the turn of phrase in a poem. I was plodding along making pretty things that really didn’t have a connection to a story, until I found the Art Bead Scene. That site introduced me to the idea that you can make jewelry inspired by a master work of art. I was introduced to art beads through this as well and I have been hooked ever since! In fact, I have been an editor at the Art Bead Scene since 2010. I also write for other blogs like Earrings Everyday, and my own blog, Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere. I love to share stories of inspiration and connect people to their innate creativity.

3. What advice do you have for folks just starting out?

Invest in the best tools and materials that you can afford. But don’t overlook that anything can be made into something delightful, often with nothing more than your own two hands! Practice, practice and practice! Once you learn a few basics you can be off and running with your new hobby, but there are a lot of really great things that you might want to achieve that can only be done through practice. Stamping is a prime example. I am still perfecting the art of stamping in a straight line (luckily, I like wonky!). Once you find the style that suits you, expect to keep perfecting it and pushing your creative boundaries. I started at the beginning just like you!

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

Take your time and plan it out! I am very impatient and I frequently just barrel ahead. I am not so concerned if my stamped pieces are perfectly straight, but there is no excuse for grabbing your stamp the wrong way and striking the letter upside down, or the wrong letter altogether! Before I stamp I write it down, I take a deep breath, and I never, ever close my eyes when I am about to strike the hammer!

5. Where can our readers find you?

www.tesoritrovati.com – my web store that includes any jewelry I have for sale as well as my popular line of custom, made-to-order Simple Truths pendants and charms, most of which include messages that are stamped in clay
www.tesoritrovati.etsy.com – my Etsy shop that is for one of a kind, one offs and samples of my Simple Truths line that are ready to ship
http://treasures-found.blogspot.com – my blog where I write about finding inspiration everywhere.
www.facebook.com/tesoritrovati – I am not the most active on Facebook, but I do share news about Tesori Trovati here.

Make sure you visit Erin Prais-Hintz at the links above and check out her amazing design work. Not only is she an inspiring designer, she’s an inspiring woman who lifts others up with her kind comments and positive outlook. The world needs more people like Erin who signs her emails “Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.” ~ Anonymous

Indeed!

December 4, 2023
12 Terrific Metal Stamped Earring Projects

This week, it’s all about earrings! We’ve got a fabulous line up of 12 Terrific DIY Metal Stamped Earring Projects for your creative inspiration. Earrings are one of our favorite projects here because they’re one size fits all and they’re the easiest way to dress up an outfit in a flash. We’re dreaming up next week’s DIY, so stay tuned! Until then, enjoy the links.

Share your two cents without saying a word with these stamped copper and penny earrings for ImpressArt.

Use design stamps to create a simply stunning pair of textured earrings with a floral theme from Jeff Fulkerson for PJ Tool Jewelry!

Show your love for all things metal stamping with this pretty pair of embellished earrings from Theresa Cifali for ImpressArt.

Make a pretty pair of hammered and stamped heart earrings with Margot Potter for ImpressArt

Here are more hand stamped heart earrings to love from Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog.

Stamp and paint some pretty purple peace earrings with Tammy Powley of Jewelry Making at About.com!

In case you missed these, we showed you how to dap, stamp and texture the perfect pair of earrings for spring last week.

Try these stamped copper wire earrings on for size with Margot Potter for ImpressArt!

Not into DIY? You can buy these hand stamped Dandelion Wish earrings from Tiny Tokens Designs on Etsy!

Show your crafty street cred with these DIY Crafty Chick earrings from Margot Potter for ImpressArt.

Get a jump on the holidays with these clever Jingle Bell Earrings from Margot Potter for ImpressArt!

And last, but not least, copper washers, flowers and tiny bottle caps make for a whimsical pair of hand stamped poppy earrings!

12 Terrific Metal Stamped Earring projects for your craftertainment. Let us know which ones you’ll be making in the comments!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

August 15, 2023
Metal Stamped Valentine Pendants

(Disclosure: Affiliate links in post, if you follow the link and make a purchase we get a small percentage of the sale.)

Love is in the air and Valentine’s day is almost here! Make some Metal Stamped Valentine Pendants to show your special someone you cherish them forever! We’re going to show you how.

Once you’re married, it can be tough coming up with something original for Valentine’s Day. Flowers, candy…been there, done that. Why not stamp up a personalized set of pendants for your sweetheart with both of your initials and wedding date? Isn’t it romantic? She can wear the heart, he can wear the date, they can wear them together or apart. This makes a lovely DIY wedding gift too. It’s so easy to stamp into these new SoftStrike pewter blanks from ImpressArt, anyone can do this.

You will need:
ImpressArt- Basic Newsprint Uppercase Letter Metal Stamp Set
ImpressArt- Basic Newsprint Numbers Metal Stamp Set
Wood Handle Scratch Awl
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
ImpressArt Stamping Blank Rectangle, 1.5-Inch by .3125-Inch, 2-Pack
ImpressArt, 0.75-Inch by 0.75-Inch, Pewter Hearts
Beadalon Jump Ring 6mm
Ball Chain Necklace With Clasp
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
Cloth or paper towel

Step one: Tape your heart blank down to the bench block, align tape just below the center of the heart. Stamp ‘&’ symbol in center and the first initials of the happy couple on either side. Step two: Wipe paint across letters, wipe off excess with paper towel. Step three: Use bent and chain nose pliers to attach pendant to jump ring and chain. Step four: Tape the rectangle pendant to the bench block. You can stamp left to right or top to bottom. Stamp date. Use an awl or a period stamp in between the numbers of the date. Make sure you don’t hit the awl too hard, pewter is softer than base metal. Step five: Swipe paint across surface of stamp. Wipe off excess. Step six: Attach pendant to jump ring and ball chain.

Now you can make Metal Stamped Valentine Pendants they’re sure to love! New to metal stamping? Here are some tips for metal stamping success. Want more metal stamping? Subscribe via email in the sidebar and never miss a post!

Cheers,
Margot & 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 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!

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July 11, 2023
11 DIY Metal Stamped Necklaces

Stamp it, bead it, wrap it, wear it! Whatever your style there’s a little something for everyone in this week’s round-up of 11 stunning DIY Metal Stamped Necklaces. We love them all! How about you? Get the tutorials for these in the links below. Make sure you show all of these talented bloggers a little love.

Stamp and bead a little lucky charm. Make this, it’s easy!

Stamped jewelry gets some clever DIY packaging with I Spy DIY!

Stamp, texture and form a simply charming necklace with Studio Dax!

Make a Disney inspired commemorative necklace with Magical Day Weddings.

Get ready for summer with this layered Gypsy necklace from Beaducation.

Stamp up a lovely layered necklace with Bubbly Nature Creations.

Make gorgeous bridesmaid necklaces with Rings ‘n Things.

Show mom some love with this stamped and beaded Mother’s Necklace from Crazy Little Projects.

Make and wear a fabulous stamped and beaded eye candy necklace!

Stamp and rivet a rainy day homage with Beaducation!

Turn that lucky penny into a pretty dapped and stamped necklace with Happy Hour Projects!

There you have it, folks, 11 FABULOUS DIY Metal Stamped Necklaces. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

April 4, 2023
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

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.

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.

Cheers,
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 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!)

February 10, 2023
Embracing Imperfection in Metal Stamping

I was hosting metal stamping make and takes at a big trade show last month when a woman walked up to the podium. I could tell she was a perfectionist, she was very concerned with getting it right. It took her far longer than most to stamp the three tiny pieces of metal with one letter. She was becoming increasingly flustered.

“How do I make this perfect?” She asked.

“You don’t.” I answered, pausing. “If you want perfect, get a cast metal or laser inscribed piece of jewelry. This is metal stamping, it’s done my hand, it’s meant to have some imperfection.”

“I want it to be perfect.” She pouted.

I couldn’t help her. This was something in her head that I simply couldn’t fix. Some people are not capable of embracing imperfection in metal stamping or life in general. Which is funny, considering most things are imperfect. I find imperfection beautiful. Flaws, scars, asymmetry and inconsistencies fascinate me. I am not afraid of imperfection, I embrace it. Yet, I have to admit that sometimes even I look at my metal stamped pieces so intensely, that I begin to fall into the ‘it’s not perfect’ trap.

Then I let that go. Walk away, come back with fresh eyes and most of the time those tiny flaws have disappeared. There are a few things you can do to approach this. One approach is to intentionally skew the placement of your letters. If you make them cattywompus on purpose, then ‘perfect’ loses meaning. Plus, angling your letters adds a lovely touch of whimsy. Here’s an example of a cattywompus design.:

(You can get the instructions to make these earrings on the ImpressArt website.)

If that isn’t your style, there are ways to line up your letters, plan your spacing and get more consistent results. Using tape to hold the blank and placing the top of the tape just below where you want to stamp offers a guideline, marking the tape with equally spaced lines helps with spacing, making sure the words you want to stamp fit the width and height of the piece prevents running out of room, marking letter placement with a pencil offers a removable guideline, starting in the center and working to each side keeps your words centered. I like these tips and tricks from I Always Choose the Thimble on stamping and kerning, which utilizes techniques from typesetting. Here is a piece I stamped marking the tape and sliding the blank down to the top of the tape:

It’s easier to stamp straight lines than along curves, but with a little practice and making sure the stamps are curved you can achieve lovely results. Here’s a curved design, using the petals helped with the placement, it was easier to center the stamps:

As you can see, even my best efforts are not perfect and I am fine with that. When you’re first starting out with stamping, using thin rectangular blanks is much easier whether you’re stamping horizontally or vertically. There isn’t much room for error and that’s a good thing! Practicing on thin metal strips is another way to work on your technique. With metal stamping, practice doesn’t make perfect, but it definitely makes you more consistent.

My advice, embracing imperfection in metal stamping is the key to enjoying it! Nothing will make you crazier than trying to force perfection on something that isn’t designed for it. After all, that imperfection is how you know it’s been hand made.

Cheers,
Madge

(Disclosure: Affiliate link below, if you buy this kit, I get a small percentage of the sale.)

Want to get started metal stamping? Here’s a great starter kit from ImpressArt and PJ Tool Jewelry:

January 23, 2023
DIY Lucky Charm Metal Stamped Necklace

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’ve got a DIY Lucky Charm Metal Stamped Necklace that you can make and wear anytime you need to feel lucky. You’ll learn how to make the charm and how to create a coiled and beaded chain in this easy tutorial. Get kisses, not pinches, when you sport this on the town.

Here’s what you need:
ImpressArt SoftStrike Pewter 15/16″ Circle Blank
4mm Swarovski Crystals in Shades of Green
4mm Oval Freshwater Pearls
Daisy Spacer Metal Bead, 4mm
Shamrock Charm Bead
4 Beadalon Jump Rings 6mm Silver Plated
Beadalon 10-MM Jump Ring
Beadalon Ball Pin Medium Head Pins
German Style Wire, Round, Silver Plated, 24 gauge
Folk Art Enamel 2-Ounce Acrylic Paint, Licorice
Folk Art Enamel 2-Ounce Acrylic Paint, Evergreen
Beadalon Chain
Toggle Clasp
ImpressArt- 6mm, Four Leaf Clover Metal Stamp
ImpressArt Basic Metal Stamp Set, Uppercase, 3mm
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
Round Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Bent Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Chain Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Flush Cutters

Step one: Stamp the clover in center of blank. Stamp around the edges, spacing the letters out and turning the block to face you as you stamp. Start in the center, working your way up both sides to spell Lucky Charm.

Step two: Use your fingertip or a cotton swab to wipe a small amount of paint into the clover. Let sit for 30 seconds, wipe off surface leaving paint in stamped area. Try to avoid getting green paint in the letters.

Step Three: Use your fingertip or a cotton swab to rub black enamel paint into letters. Allow to sit for 30 seconds and wipe paint off of surface.

Step Four: Use beads and a pearl to make beaded charms.

Step Five: Make your first coiled bead in your beaded chain. You’ll need to make wrapped coils on both ends. If you don’t know how to make coils, here’s a video tutorial.

Step Six: This is what the coiled bead should look like!

Step seven: To make the second coiled bead, make a finished coil on one end. Start your loop on the other end, thread it into one side of the first coiled bead, finish wrapping to connect them. Keep going, alternating between crystals and pearls on both sides for a total of four pearls and four crystals.

Step Eight: This is your finished chain. The pendant will hang between the two pearls in the front.

Step Nine: Connect the beaded chain to two chain lengths using jump rings. Finish the chain with a clasp. The toggle bar should be attached directly to the final chain link, you can open and close it with your pliers. The circle end is attached with a jump ring.

Step Ten: This is the front half of your necklace. Attach the stamped charm with a 10mm jump ring and the dangles all hang in between the first crystal and second pearl on the left side of the design. That’s it! Simply charming, yes?

We hope you enjoy making and wearing this Lucky Charm Metal Stamped Necklace as much as we do! Happy St. Patty’s Day from our home to yours.

Cheers,
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!

January 14, 2023
#awesome metal stamped hashtag pins

*ImpressArt just released an adorable new font that is great for making whimsical, fun, handcrafted designs. Juniper plays on the hand written font trend with an easy to read upper and lower case font that comes in these super awesome new slotted stackable cases! Every letter and symbol has a market slot. No more hunting and pecking, it’s so easy to just pull the stamp you need and slide it right back into the case.

We were particularly excited about the hashtag stamp. We decided to make some #positive #awesome metal stamped hashtag pins. Get the project below and don’t forget to enter to win our Juniper lower case font giveaway! Let’s get started!

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November 12, 2022
DIY Candy Stash Necklace

Sometimes you need a little sugar rush. When that emergency strikes, this DIY Candy Stash Necklace will fix you right up! Or, you could just wear it because it’s cute. Like you, cutie pie! Fill your tiny vial with whatever you might need in an emergency, glitter, glue, aspirin, sequins…vodka. What ev er.

You will need:
Mini Glass Vials with Screws
2 6mm Jump Rings
Sterling Silver Fine Cable Chain Necklace
Candy sprinkles
ImpressArt Pewter Stamping Blank River Stone
Letter Punch Set 1/16 Inch
Letter Stamp Punch Set 1/8″
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
ImpressArt Brass Stamping Hammer
Impress Art Stamp Straight Tape
ImpressArt 2-Hole Punch
Chain nose pliers
Aleene’s Max Tacky Adhesive
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
Small Funnel
Cotton swab and paper towel

Amazon.com Widgets

Step one: Stamp “in case of EMERGENCY” on your blank. Start in the center with “of” and work to top and bottom. I used smaller lower case fonts for “in case of” and then did the word “EMERGENCY” in all caps with a cattywompus placement. Step two: Swipe black enamel paint across front of blank with a cotton swab. Let sit for 30 seconds, then wipe off with a soft cloth or paper towel. Step three: Use smaller side of 2-hole punch to pierce a hole in the center bottom of stamped blank. Step four: Use funnel to pour candy sprinkles into vial.

Step five: Wipe a small amount of adhesive around bottom half of cork. Use pliers to hold cork securely as you place it into vial. Step six: Place a small amount of adhesive on end of screw. Use chain nose pliers to grip loop at top of screw and slowly screw it into the top of the cork. Step seven: Connect the jar to the stamped charm and add a jump ring to top of charm. Step eight: Add chain.

That’s it! You can make this DIY Candy Stash Necklace in well under thirty minutes, just make sure you let the adhesive dry before you wear it out on the town. Oh, and don’t break this unless there’s a real emergency, or you’ll have to make another.

What will you stash in yours? Let us know in the comments!

Cheers,
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!

(This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we get a small percentage of the sale. That’s how we maintain our candy stash.)

*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!

August 12, 2022
12 Terrific DIY Metal Stamped Pendants

This week’s metal stamping round up features plenty of inspiration with 12 Terrific DIY Metal Stamped Pendants. Some of our favorite DIY bloggers have done it again with a plethora of pretty pendants. I love the variety here in styles, mediums and metals. Get the links to these projects below and be sure you visit these talented ladies and say hello!

Learn how to stamp and rivet with this tutorial from Happy Hour Projects.

Here’s another stunner from Happy Hour Projects, with a combination of copper and silver that’s sure to please!

Anchors away! Get in on the nautical trend with this layered stamped design from One Artsy Mama.

It’s a twofer, with fabulous stamped framed pendants from Happy Hour Projects.

More nautical themed loveliness with this starfish and stamped charm embellished set from One Artsy Mama for Angela Strand.

Get that spring feeling with this lovely bloom pendant from One Artsy Mama.

Give grandma a gift she’s sure to treasure with this stamped washer pendant from One Artsy Mama.

Here’s a lovely reminder to be still from One Artsy Mama.

Feeling a little more, shall we say, cheeky? Try this ‘fml’ pendant from Hands Occupied.

Love, family and home, three things to cherish in this simply striking stamped pendant from Happy Hour Projects.

Stamp a key shaped blank to make a stunning one of a kind design with One Artsy Mama.

And last, but surely not least, here’s our ‘yes, sir’ mustache pendant for ImpressArt!

There you go, 12 Terrific DIY Metal Stamped Pendants! Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

May 16, 2022