Best Buds Forever
SKILL LEVEL : Intermediate
Get Your Budding Ideas Blooming! Create hand-stamped floral keepsakes to celebrate birthdays, share the meaning of a special flower, or to simply give the gift of a pretty blossom to your best friend.
Place blank on stamping block. Position Flower Ultra Detail Design Stamp on the blank. 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.
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: Use stamp tape to secure the blank to the stamping block so it doesn’t move while stamping.
Note: Harder metals and stamps with more detail require a harder strike than softer metals and stamps with less detail.
Highlight impressions with Black Stamp Enamel. Wait 3-5 minutes and then wipe away the excess enamel 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.
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.
