It’s SPRIG Time!
SKILL LEVEL : Intermediate
Spring has sprung! Celebrate the arrival of warm weather, beautiful blooms, and luscious green foliage with warm-toned, mixed-metal, hand-stamped necklaces. These necklaces will be saying it's SPRIG time all year long!
Use premade stamping blanks or modify a premade stamping blank to create your own shape or change desired necklace pendant orientation. Cut blank using metal shears.
Use coarse grit on the Matte Finish Buffing Block to soften any sharp edges. Hold the buffing block in the palm of hand and use downward strokes with moderate pressure to file sharp edges. Repeat until edges are smooth to touch.
Note: Be sure not to scratch the surface of the blank.
(Optional) Buff surface of the blank to a matte finish using Matte Finish Buffing Blocks. Use medium grit to create a brushed matte textured surface. Hold buffing block in palm of hand and use even, smooth downward strokes to buff the surface to a matte finish. Repeat until desired texture is achieved.
Pierce a hole in each blank using the 1/16” punch of the 2 Hole Screw Down Punch. Simply turn the handle of the screw down punch until the punch pierces through the stamping blank. Twist the handle of the screw down punch in the opposite direction to raise the punch and remove blank.
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.
Place blank on stamping block. Position Design Stamp of your choice 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 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.
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 onto jump ring, and drape chain over the open ring. Laterally twist the jump ring back with tension to close. Close chain to complete necklace.
