I can make metal stamped jewelry

Tag: metal stamping tips

  • Artist Spotlight: Barbe Saint John

    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.)

  • Basic Metal Stamping 1 2 3

    Metal Stamping 1 2 3

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

    Metal stamping 1 2 3, it’s really that easy. Here’s what you need to get started!

    Brass Stamping Hammer
    (I prefer a brass hammer to steel, brass is softer and disperses or transfers the energy of the hit into the blank preventing skipping or ghost impressions)

    Metal Stamps

    Steel Block

    Stamp Straight Tape

    Acrylic Enamel Paint

    Metal Stamping Blanks (Try aluminum when you start out, it’s softer and easier to stamp than base metal and it’s less expensive.)

    And here are the basic steps:

    Step One:

    Plan out your word, line up your stamps and make sure that the word will fit on the blank. Tape the blank to the bench block and start in the center working out from there.

    Step Two:

    Hold your stamp so it is in full contact with the surface of the blank.  Make sure it’s straight, not tilted!  Keep your fingers away from the top of the stamp.  Give your stamp one good hit, don’t stamp more than once to avoid skipping or double impressions.  Stamp your word, keep the stamps lined up to the top of the tape.  You can angle the alignment of your stamps for a more whimsical effect. If you are worried about spacing, draw marks on the tape to line up your letters or even mark directly on your metal blank with a pencil.

    Step Three:

    Add color with a permanent marker, wipe clean with a dry cloth before the marker sets.

    OR

    Use acrylic paint instead, giving it a few seconds to set before wiping the surface.

    And that’s Metal Stamping 1 2 3. You got this!

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  • Artist Spotlight: Amy Latta

    Amy Latta

    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.

    1. 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.

    1. 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.

    1. 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.

    1. 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.

    1. 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

    Facebook

    Twitter @oneartmama

    Instagram: @oneartsymama

    Pinterest

    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

  • Artist Spotlight: Lisa Pace

    Lisa Pace Artist Spotlight

    We’re thrilled to shine a big, bright spotlight on the multi-talented mixed media artist Lisa Pace. A best selling author, Lisa has a popular website where she shares tutorials and design inspiration. She has her own line of gorgeous rubber stamps and an array of wonderful vintage inspired kits, supplies and e-classes. You can find her stunning metal stamped designs in her Etsy Shop.  We asked Lisa our Five Easy Questions and here are her answers.

    1. When did you start making jewelry and why? I have been metal stamping off and on for several years but just recently started making jewelry. I have a true love for unique items especially bracelets. So I decided to give jewelry making a try. I really enjoy making cuffs and charm bracelets that incorporate my love of vintage treasures with a little modern twist. My latest book Delight In The Art of Collage has several metal stamped items that accent projects as well as a simple step by step tutorial on basic metal stamping.

    photo 1 (2)-001

    2. What is your favorite source for jewelry making inspiration? I find inspiration for jewelry making from all over. I find unique color combinations and designs from of all things, junk mail and of course magazines but I find that Mother Nature is one of my favorite sources. Nature is filled with all kinds of amazing colors, designs and textures.

    3. What advice do you have for folks just starting out? The best thing you can do for yourself when starting to create jewelry is to spend that little extra money on quality tools. In the long run these tools will save you money and hours of frustration. My favorite stamping go to keep handy tools are a Brass Stamping Hammer, Large Jeweler’s Solid Steel Bench Block , ImpressArt 2-Hole Punch and of course Stamp Straight Tape. With these tools you are set to create beautiful metal stamped jewelry.

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    4. What tips or tricks can you share for successful metal stamping? My best tip for metal stamping is to use Stamp Straight Tape. This tape is a life saver and a blanks saver. Promise! Not only does Stamp Straight Tape help you accurately stamp onto metal but it doesn’t leave a sticky mess on your steel block.

    5. Where can our readers find you? Readers can find me online via my website/blog, Etsy and Social Media.

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    LinkedIn

    Please visit Lisa Pace, like and follow her pages and show her a little love! Stay tuned for more featured artists. Thanks for taking time to visit our little corner of the Blogiverse.

    Happy stamping,
    Margot and Avalon

  • Artist Spotlight: Karen Roark

    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