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Level 3

The Showstopper

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Tools & Supplies

Step 1
Place crescent blank on block. Use stamp tape at the very ends of the crescent shape to secure the blank to the block.
Step 2

Create a border around the crescent blank using a mandala design stamp. Start at bottom of the blank and line up the stamp (facing desired direction) with the edge of the blank. Hold stamp flat and firmly in place by anchoring the side of your hand on workspace. Strike design stamps once with medium force using the Metal Stamping Hammer. Continue stamping to create a border pattern around the blank.Turn the stamping block while working to complete the border pattern. This will ensure that the stamp is facing the correct direction.

TIP: When positioning the stamp for the border, look for reflection of the stamp in metal.

TIP - TILT & TAP: Use the Tilt & Tap technique to stamp 6mm and larger stamps, or stamps with more details. While applying pressure to the stamp, strike once with medium force. Then without lifting stamp, continue to strike while very slightly tilting the stamp in a circular motion to catch all sides of the design.

Step 3
Using a ruler and a nonpermanent marker, find the center of the blank and make a dot. Then make a dot at the ¼” marks of the blank.
Step 4
Stamp simple mandala patterns of your choice on and around each of the marked dots to create three mandala clusters. Remember to turn the stamping block while working to ensure that the stamp is facing the correct direction. After stamping is complete, place stamped crescent blank aside.
Step 5

Place oval blank on stamping block. Offset a pattern grid, by placing it towards the top of the blank. Secure the edges of the pattern grid to the stamping block. Start mandala pattern from the center using the line and circle marks as guides to assist with spacing and work your way outwards. Remove pattern grid. Place stamped oval blank aside.

TIP: Use tweezers to carefully remove any remaining stamp guide remnants from the stamped impressions. Make sure not to scratch the blank.

Step 6
Set 1” crescent w/ hole on stamping block. Secure the top of the blank to the block using a piece of stamp tape. Use a rule and a nonpermanent marker to find the center of the blank and place a dot in this location. Build your own unique, personal mandala pattern around the blank. Place stamped blank aside.
Step 7

Place all the stamped blanks on the block in order from top to bottom—crescent 2 ⅜”, oval, crescent 1”. Use the nonpermanent marker to mark the hole locations—two (2) jump rings connect each blank together, and two (2) are needed at the top of the necklace pendant to connect the chain as well as at the bottom of the necklace pendant to connect the fringe.

Pierce holes using the 1/16" punch of the Two Hole Screw Down Punch. Mark the desired location of the holes with a nonpermanent marker. Line up the screw punch with the mark on the stamping blank. Once the punch and the mark are aligned, simply turn the handle of the screw down punch until the screw punch pierces through the stamping blank, leaving a clean crisp hole. Then twist the handle of the screw down punch in the opposite direction to raise the screw punch and remove blank. Wipe off any remaining marks.

TIP: Make sure not to screw the punch down too much as this will mar the surface of the blank and leave an unwanted impression of the base of the screw.

Step 8

One at a time, place blank, stamped side down, inside dapping cavity of dapping block. Hold punch in center of blank and tap the punch with the Metal Stamping Hammer. Then continue to tape the punch while rotating the punch at an angle in the dapping cavity until blank is evenly domed into a convex shape.

NOTE: Crescent 2 ⅜” blank will hang over the side of the dapping cavity. Come in the center with the punch and press down. Then give the punch a few very light taps with the hammer. Next, move the ends of the blank into the center of the dapping block and tap the punch. At this point, crescent blank will be extremely convexed. Use fingers to manipulate metal and pull the ends out just a bit. This will soften the convex shape and ensure that the blank has a flat top and curved sides.

Step 9
Highlight impressions with Black 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. To create an antiqued oxidized look, repeat enamel process by applying Silver Stamp Enamel over the black enameled impressions.
Step 10
Use flush cutters to cut the clasp and extender off a premade chain. Place the section of the chain towards the back of the flush cutter’s jaws and squeezing the handle. Measure and cut two pieces of chain that are 5 inches and two pieces of chain that are two inches. Set cut chain aside. Cut chain will be used when assembling the tassels.
Step 11
Use two chain nose pliers to remove the clasp from one of the necklaces and the extender chain from the second necklace. Grasp the sides of a jump ring connecting these two pieces to the chain, 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. Remove clasp/extender. Laterally twist the jump ring back with tension to close.
Step 12
Buff stamped blanks 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.
Step 13
Use the jump ring technique (Step 11) to assemble the necklace pendant. Start with chain and connect on one side, the non-clasp end to the crescent 2 ⅜” blank and on the other side the non-extender end. Follow the same jump ring technique to attach the remaining two stamped blanks (oval and crescent 1”) to form a pendant. Set necklace pendant aside.
Step 14
Finally, assemble and attach the tassels at the bottom of the necklace pendant. First, fold the 5-inch piece of chain in half, making one side a little bit shorter than the other for a 3D effect. Open a jump ring and slide one side the halfway mark of the tassel onto the open ring. Then slide the end of one of the 2-inch chains as well as the crescent 1” onto the ring before closing the jump ring. Repeat this process to construct and attach the second fringe.

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