Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Metal Stamping Blanks

When looking for metal stamping blanks you have a lot of options. Whatever type of personalized item you're looking to make there is a blank just waiting to be stamped. Whether it's creating some personalized earrings, a charm bracelet with your family members names, pet tags, or really anything else, there's a blank for you.

When looking at blanks it's important to consider the type and hardness of the metal. Hard steel can be difficult to get a good clear stamp on and can potentially damage your stamps. Sterling silver is an excellent choice because it's affordable and soft enough to allow you to make some pretty cool stuff.

You can buy blanks on-line or at your local craft store. The good thing about buying them from a brick and mortar store is that you can talk to the person you're buying them from and make sure they'll meet your needs. If you build a relationship with people at the store they'll keep a look-out for good deals and let you know when they see cool stuff.

But really you're only limited by your imagination. So go out there, grab some blanks, and get stamping!!!


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Metal Stamping Ideas

When it comes to stamping metal you're really only limited by your imagination. However, sometimes you need a little boost to get started. Here are my top five stamp ideas:


  1. Charm bracelet: You can find blank charms on-line for pretty cheap so if you make a mistake it's not a big deal. A great personalized gift idea.
  2. Pet Tags: You can buy blank tags at any pet store. A great way to make sure your pets tags have all the necessary info. 
  3. Bookmarks: You can buy blank metal bookmarks on-line. Stamp them with your favorite quote, author, or books. Also a great gift idea.
  4. Canning Jar Lids: Never forget what's in that jar again. Canning lids are perfect for stamping because the metal isn't too hard making it great for beginners.
  5. Garden Plant Label: Get some old spoons and stamp them flat with a hammer. Then stamp the name of each plant into it and stick the spoon in the dirt. A very cool and kind of rustic way to keep track of your plants.
Share any ideas you might have in the comments!

The Joys of Metal Stamping

Metal stamping is a cool and creative hobby anyone can partake in. All you need are a few supplies which include a hammer, metal stamps, and something to stamp!

The first step is to decide if you want to stamp some jewelry you already have or start with something new. If you are going to use some jewelry you already have it's probably a good idea not to use something too expensive in case you make a mistake.

Then decide what you want to stamp into your jewelry. Words, design, or something else it's all up to you. If you are going to stamp words it's a good idea to lay out your tools ahead of time in the correct order so you don't accidentally make a mistake.

It's a good idea also to draw a line of use some tape to line up the area you want to stamp to keep it straight.  Then just hit the stamp firmly with your hammer and you'll be on your way!