I can make metal stamped jewelry

Tag: make it with madge

Stamped Aluminum Wire Necklace

(THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS, IF YOU CLICK ON A LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE WE GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE.)

I’ve been working with wire for years, but I’ve never been a huge fan of aluminum wire. It’s so soft and malleable, I just couldn’t see the point…until now. I got a coil of 12 gauge Aluminum Artistic Wire recently and started playing. I was so excited when I discovered that by hammering and stamping, it was possible to work harden the wire enough to make some beautiful jewelry. Aluminum will stay shiny too, and gets even shinier when you hammer it, so that’s another bonus. Plus, it’s very inexpensive so it’s a great place to start playing with wire if you’re a newbie. I made this Stamped Aluminum Wire necklace to wear to a big trade show and I thought it would be fun to share the technique I used with you. Stamping on this wire does take a little practice, because the stamps have to be centered. Make sure you flatten it enough to accommodate the width of the stamp, nothing wider than 1.5 for a full impression, the stamp I used to make the stripes was a little wider than that.

Watch the video for the tutorial and grab the materials below!

What you need to make this Stamped Aluminum Wire Necklace (these are affiliate links, if you click on a link and make a purchase we get a small percentage of the sale, which is how we pay the rent!):
Artistic Wire Aluminum Craft Wire, 12 Gauge
ImpressArt, Circle, 1/2″, Aluminum Stamping Blanks
ImpressArt, Tag, Oval, w/ Ring, 5/8″, Aluminum Stamping Blanks
Beads (Swarovski Light Rose, 8 MM round beads, Swarovski Crystal, #6480 Spike Pendant 18mm Crystal Golden Shadow
, Swarovski Crystal, #5051 Oval Mini Beads 10mm, Crystal Golden Shadow
Beadalon Jump Ring 6mm Silver Plated
Beadalon Chain, 6m, Small Cable, Silver Plated
Beadalon Lobster Clasp Medium Silver Plated
Beadalon Ball Head Pin Silver Plated
1.5mm + stamp (You can find one in the new 1.5 mm Deco lower case font set from ImpressArt)
3mm Basic Sans Serif Lowercase “l” ImpressArt- Basic Metal Stamp Set, Lowercase, 3mm
ImpressArt Stamp Enamel
ImpressArt Chasing Hammer
ImpressArt Nylon Hammer
Artistic Wire Nylon Jaw Pliers
ImpressArt Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
Round Nose Pliers
2 Pairs ImpressArt Chain Nose Pliers
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
Beadalon Leather Pad For Block and Anvil
Beadalon Memory Wire Shear
ImpressArt Hole Punch Pliers
Paper Towel

Steps:

Cut wire segments using memory wire shears or flush cutters, make sure both ends are flush cut. If they’re pointy, your hammered pieces will be scratchy!

Use flat end of chasing hammer to flatten wire enough that it will be able to accept the 1.5mm stamps. Don’t overdo this, if you over hammer you will go from work hardening to making it brittle. Yup, more physics. Use round end to add texture.

Use stamps to add patterns to some of the wires. I used the ‘+’ on some and the ‘l’ on others as stripes, varying it on the diagonal and straight across. Make a variety of lengths of wire pieces, as you can see I even did a double segment for two of them.

Pierce a hole in both ends of the wire with the metal hole punching pliers. Make sure the pliers are centered before you punch!

Add Stamp Enamel to the pieces you’ve stamped, let sit for 10 seconds, wipe clean.

Stamp your charms, you can do this as you will. I like to use the tilt and tap method, which means I hit the stamp once dead center, DO NOT LIFT IT, rock to the four corners and hit each time and one last hit dead center. If you lift the stamp, this won’t work, so keep it secure. I made some blanks with hammered edges, some with dotted accents, some with dots and plus signs. Get creative!

Pierce a hole in the top and bottom of each charm with the hole punching pliers.

Slide beads on head pins and make coiled top dangles. You can find a video to do this here.

Put it all together using jump rings to connect the elements. Make sure each dangle is hanging from the bottom of the chain links, I spaced them out by four links. It will require you taking your time to get them all hanging from the bottom, but this helps you keep it from being too wonky when you wear the piece. You will have to orient the dangles properly each time you wear this design so it falls properly, just an FYI.

That’s it! You can make this Stamped Aluminum Wire Necklace as dramatic and bold or simply and refined as you desire. These wire segments can be used to make all manner of fun things, even home decor items. If you make this piece or use this technique, let us know in the comments!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

September 26, 2025
DIY Stamped Wire Bangles

There’s something deeply satisfying about taking some copper wire and turning it into jewelry. We’re showing you how to turn 10 gauge copper wire into DIY Stamped Wire Bangles and you’ll be amazed at how easy this is to do! As you hammer, stamp, smooth, and bend the soft copper wire you are changing the molecular structure. This process is called work hardening. The key is getting a feel for the wire so you don’t overwork it and turn it from hard to brittle. Practice, practice, practice, copper wire is inexpensive, easy to manipulate, and a great place to start. Watch the video first, it will help you understand the process. Then follow our step by step photos to make your own DIY Stamped Wire Bangles. This is so much fun, you’ll want to stamp up a wrist full!

You will need: The following links are affiliate based, which means we get a small percentage of the sale, which is how we can afford to create these tutorials for you!
Artistic Wire 10-Gauge Bare Copper Wire
ImpressArt Stamp Enamel or Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
1.5mm Letter & Number Punch Set
ImpressArt 2 by 2-Inch Steel Block
Beadalon Leather Pad For Block and Anvil
Ergo-Angle Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt Chasing Hammer
ImpressArt 1″ Nylon Hammer
Beadalon Nylon Jaw Pliers
ImpressArt Bracelet Bending Bar
ImpressArt Bracelet Bending Pliers
Sanding Block or Metal Filing Tools
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
Ruler
Non-Permanent Marker
Paper Towel

Watch the video for the full tutorial, then get the step by step photos and instructions below!

Step One: Measure and cut wire using shears. The wire will get a little longer as you stamp. Remember the bangle is open in the back. I used 5″ wire segments, but I have small wrists, you can increase or decrease the wire length to fit your wrist.

Step Two: Before you hammer, use your nylon jaw pliers to straighten out your wire, then use flat end of chasing hammer to flatten the wire ends. Then add texture with the round end.

Step Three: Repeat this process over the entire wire length. Pay more attention to the center since this is where you will be stamping. You need to flatten it enough to fit the 1.5mm stamps. Don’t over hammer, hammering work hardens the copper, but too much hammering can make the copper brittle.

Step Four: Straighten wire again with nylon jaw pliers.

Step Five: Turn hammered wire on it’s side and hammer, repeat on other side. This helps keep the stamped wire straight.

Step Six: Tape bracelet to blank. Mark the center point of your wire with a non-permanent marker. Don’t stamp dead center, this is a stress point on the bracelet.

Step Seven: Stamp the center letter to the left of the marked center point.

Step Eight: Stamp left and right, until you’ve completed your word.

Step Nine: After hammering the wire one last time to straighten, insert one end of wire into the bracelet bending bar. Gently bend the wire over the curved area of the bar.

Step Ten: Insert opposite end of wire into the bar, repeat process. Don’t over bend, this is just to form the arc of your bracelet, take your time!

Step Eleven: Use the bracelet bending pliers to fine tune the shape of your bangle. You can also use your nylon jaw pliers here to refine the shape!

Step Twelve: Use a jeweler’s file or sanding block to send ends of wire to make them dull.

Step Thirteen: Apply Stamp Enamel with applicator tip. Allow to sit for 10 seconds. Wipe medium into stamped letters with paper towel, then wipe off the surface medium. This will polish the metal and leave the medium in the stamped areas to help them stand out!

Step Fourteen: Make a wrist full!

You can further refine, polish, and finish these DIY Stamped Wire Bangles if you desire. I have a flex shaft tool with a variety of polishing tips and a tumbler, and there’s always a little elbow grease and steel wool! You can also coat them with clear nail polish to keep them from tarnishing as copper will do over time.

These DIY Stamped Wire Bangles are a great way to get a feel for working with wire without breaking the bank. I love these so much, I am planning to make them in sterling. Take your time, have some fun, don’t worry about perfection. It’s handmade, the little imperfections are part of what makes them beautiful.

Stay tuned, we’ll have more videos and step by step tutorials on the way for the holidays with lots of DIY personalized gifts!

Cheers,
Margot and Avalon

January 2, 2024
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.

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

February 18, 2020