Shine Bright Like A...
SKILL LEVEL : Intermediate
Say ‘Happy Birthday’ to you, your loved one, or your customer with a personalized hand-stamped bar necklace! Make their necklace even more personal by adding a crystal so they can 'shine bright like...’ their birthstone or crystal of their choice.
Place rectangle stamping blank on stamping block. Secure a straight stamp guide on the blank. Use the guide marks to evenly space out letters and align stamp impressions.
TIP: Use stamp tape to secure the blank to the stamping block so it doesn’t move while stamping.
Place stamp on blank, above the corresponding mark on the stamp guide. Lightly drag stamp towards the guide until the stamp catches the edge of the guide. Hold stamp flat and firmly in place by anchoring the side of your hand on workspace. Then strike the stamp once with medium force using Metal Stamping Hammer. Repeat to complete desired word. Remove stamp guide.
TIP: If the stamp has an ImpressArt logo, make sure it is facing you so that the impression is stamped in the correct direction.
TIP: Slightly tilt the stamp towards you while dragging the stamp towards the guide. Make sure you hold the stamp flat and firmly in place before striking the stamp.
For a spark of color, stamp desired design details with the crystal setter.
Hold crystal setter flat and firmly in place on the stamping blank. Strike with medium force using metal stamping hammer until a round indentation is formed in the stamping blank. The indentation should be deep enough so that the edges of the crystal are set in the divot and the top of the crystal protrudes out from the blank.
Highlight impressions with Stamp Enamel. Wait 3-5 minutes and then dab the excess enamel into the impressions with a paper towel before lightly wiping it away from the surface of the blank.
Buff stamped blank to a brilliant, high-shine finish using High Polish Finish Blocks. Use fine grit to quickly clean and polish blanks. Hold buffing block in the palm of the hand and move the block in even, back and forth strokes to remove dirt and dried enamel left on the raised surfaces. Use extra fine grit for buffing to a high shine. Hold buffing block in the palm of hand and buff in tiny, back and forth strokes with light pressure to get a mirror-like shine.
Secure flat back crystal inside stamped divot impression with jewelry adhesive, and allow to dry. Use tweezers to help set crystals in place, making sure not to scratch the crystals.
Note: Allow necklace to dry for at least 24 hours before wearing.
Fold the pre-made chain in half at the clasp. Use flush cutters to cut the chain in half by placing the chain towards the back of the flush cutter’s jaws and squeezing the handle.
Use the tips of two chain nose pliers to grasp the sides of a jump ring, with the opening of the jump ring facing up between the two pliers. Laterally twist each side of the jump ring in opposite directions to open the ring. Slide blank and one end of the pre-made chain onto the jump ring. Laterally twist the jump ring back with tension to close. Repeat to connect the other side of the chain to the blank.
NOTE: Do NOT pull outwards on the jump ring as it will weaken the metal and distort the circular shape of the ring.
Close clasp to complete the necklace.
