Monday, May 16, 2011

Stamped Necklaces

Design distraction anyone? Like I don't have enough going on, I decided to try stamping. There are so many cute designs out there and I wanted to make some myself.

I bought a stamping set of letters/numbers/basic symbols to start with. The nail set is for a 'period' symbol. The square metal thingee is called an anvil and is what you stamp the piece on. A hammer is used to strike the top of the stamp, making a depression of the symbol on what's being stamped. It takes a pretty good hit, so the anvil protects the desk.



Since experience has taught me to not use the most expensive materials to practice a new skill, I bought some washers to try this out on. Turns out that was a good idea. These are, from left to right, my first, second, and third tries at this project. Spacing is obviously as important as positioning. Oh, and getting the letter going the right way...

The 'D' in pride on the left stamp is backwards
The stamps are held perpendicular to the piece to be stamped and hit with a hammer (once if you're good, more than once if you don't think it came out deep enough.)


A piece of painter's tape holds the piece on the anvil while it's being stamped. It also helps line up the stamps if stamping in a straight line.


Longer words = harder positioning = more skill needed ;)



This was a 'try-it-and-see' on the back of one of the earlier mistakes. It's a definite maybe.



The finished project. I added a 1mm black cotton cord, and a couple of charms. My sister loved hers, and my sister-in-law's is in the mail (hope she doesn't read this before she gets it!)

The copper piece in the pics above isn't finished - doh! I'll update my facebook page when it's finished if anyone wants to see it. Wasn't able to get anything done while in Chicago this weekend :)

UPDATE: I know you don't want to leave my blog for even a second (LOL), so here's a pic of the copper necklace I was working on above:



Linking to:
Skip to My Lou
Debbie Doos Newbie Party
Polly Want a Crafter?
The Girl Creative
My Cottage Charm



PS: Forgot to add: to get the letters to stand out more, I used a black marker pen - it wipes off easily from the metal but stays in the stamped letters. Just in case anyone is thinking of attempting this themselves!


15 comments:

  1. These turned out great! Nice first attempt...I am sure with time and experience it will be fast and easy! :)

    I hope you enjoyed Chicago this weekend even though it was brutally cold and windy!! My plants are soooo not happy I put them in the ground last week. I mean, who knew it was going to go from 90 to 40 in 2 days!

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  2. Jill, I absolutely LOVE THIS PROJECT! Thanks for showing us how to do the stamping. I have seen the little kits at the crafts stores but didn't know how to use them. Yours look awesome.

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  3. I have been thinking of trying my hand at this too!. Well done for your first try

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  4. I already know I would not be very good at this even though I love, love, love them. When it comes to spacing anything like that, I'm terrible. It looks fun to me though. I think the washers are perfect- beginner or not.

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  5. They looked great - sure makes a nice necklace/decoration.
    - Joy

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  6. hiya , thanks so much for such a great tut. its easy to look at projects and say yeah i will get the supplies cause i can do that ??? seeing how you had lots of tries anest follower
    happy crafting
    xmaggiex

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  7. Those look wonderful! I've wanted to try my hand at this, but a friend scared me away when she tried it and it didn't go so well. But yours look fantastic! Maybe if I stare at your pictures a little longer I can work up the courage to give it a try ;-) Great work!

    Rachel @ Maybe Matilda

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  8. Oh I love this jewelry!! great project! I hope you had a wonderful time in Chicago.

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  9. Jill, is there ANYTHING that you can't do? I'm pretty sure the answer is no! What an adorable gift, they're so cute!

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  10. Gorgeous! Etsy here Jill comes! hehe

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  11. Love this! I saw the stamping set in Michael's and wanted to try it but was too chicken :-)

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  12. These look great! I have a stamping set which I haven't tried yet...thanks for the tutorial! Hopped over from Treasures and Trinkets party!

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  13. I love the idea of using a stamping set on metal. I never thought it would hold up. I just used mine on wood, but that's a wonderful idea!

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  14. Jill, funny thing is, I've been looking at these! I was thinking the same thing, with everything I try and now I want to try something new! These look great and would make great gifts!

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