does anyone make hand stamped jewelry?

njh514

I got a set of the letter stamps on etsy and also some blanks for stamping. Well - apparently I have something wrong. I've followed the directions and the impressions are just barely showing up. I figured the gauge of metal I got was too high. I have 20 gauge aluminum so I went to find something less than 20 gauge. I have found NOTHING other than copper and I don't want copper. I also don't want to shell out the dough for sterling silver. This was going to be my christmas gifts for just about everyone I know. We don't have a ton of money right now and I don't want to go buying a bunch of stuff. I wanted to do this because it was something personal and it could be done for cheap. Well.... now I don't know. Where do you suggest I go from here? Just find someone who does it and pay them? Keep trying to find a smaller gauge metal (although I feel like I've looked and looked and haven't found anything other than copper which is still 18g.

I'm really disappointed. :-( 

tommigirle

are you coloring in the impression with permanent marker? that's what the tutorials i have seen call for. would that help make it pop?

 

https://shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-sday-antique-spoon-plant-markers.html

njh514

I have tried to "color them in" I guess you could say. THe problem is that they barely leave a legible mark on the metal. It looks the way it does when your printer cartridge should've been changed about 20 pages ago. Some parts seem to come out, others are mysteriously gone. I have tried hammering straight down, tilting the stamp this way and that so that all parts of the letter get some good contact, hit it once super hard, several times but a bit lighter. I really feel like I've tried everything. I want it to work SO BAD!!!!

 

(but I'm bookmarking that link. great tutorial!) 

Mere7706

have you tried to ask the seller for some tips? 

StephieMc Designs is awesome- she sells hand stamped jewelry- she may be able to help you too. 

Good luck!!

njh514

Mere7706:

have you tried to ask the seller for some tips? 

StephieMc Designs is awesome- she sells hand stamped jewelry- she may be able to help you too. 

Good luck!!

She's actually the one I bought my necklace from that made me kind of "fall in love" with them (I guess you could say.) If I had a much bigger Christmas budget you can bet I'd be buying from her. 

Do you think it's ok to ask a seller a question even if you're not planning to buy from them? Is that kosher?

 

nsees

njh514:

Mere7706:

have you tried to ask the seller for some tips? 

StephieMc Designs is awesome- she sells hand stamped jewelry- she may be able to help you too. 

Good luck!!

She's actually the one I bought my necklace from that made me kind of "fall in love" with them (I guess you could say.) If I had a much bigger Christmas budget you can bet I'd be buying from her. 

Do you think it's ok to ask a seller a question even if you're not planning to buy from them? Is that kosher?

 

I think it would definitely be ok, especially since you have purchased from her in the past.  I would make sure to start out with that and the fact that you're on a budget or else you would buy everything from her.

Also, is there a craft board that you could post on?  On the nest maybe?  Or try to google more tutorials that could answer your question about gauge?  Wish I could help you!

melsie

are you working on an anvil? working on any other surface would be a problem since it would absorb some of the shock of the hit instead of making the metal absorb the entire "hit"

have you check YouTube? I love Artbeads and i just saw they have a video. 

https://www.artbeads.com/how-to-stamp-metal.html

njh514

BIG BIG BIG OL' DOINK ON ME!!!!!!

 

I wanted a thinner metal so you know what I was searching? 16 gauge. I had 20 gauge. I forget it goes the other way. I know this stuff too. If you gauge your ears out to a 0 they're all huge and fat. The 24 I keep seeing might help! I feel like such an idiot. I'll try that first. 

I'm doing it on a block of wood outside on the cement. I know it's not the most ideal option but I'm going to try the smaller gauge then if that's still not working I'll try getting a bench block/ anvil.

 Thanks for your input. I feel like such a nerd right now for having it all backwards in my mind.  

melsie

njh514:

BIG BIG BIG OL' DOINK ON ME!!!!!!

 

I wanted a thinner metal so you know what I was searching? 16 gauge. I had 20 gauge. I forget it goes the other way. I know this stuff too. If you gauge your ears out to a 0 they're all huge and fat. The 24 I keep seeing might help! I feel like such an idiot. I'll try that first. 

I'm doing it on a block of wood outside on the cement. I know it's not the most ideal option but I'm going to try the smaller gauge then if that's still not working I'll try getting a bench block/ anvil.

 Thanks for your input. I feel like such a nerd right now for having it all backwards in my mind.  

its ok, i always have a cheat sheet on my desk when i order wire and its actually my business to know! lol 

hopefully you can get a good solution and start crankin' out the gifts.  

hero

The few times I have done stamping I have always used an small anvil or a steel block. There are small ones meant for jewelry making.

stephiemc

Hello!

 

I haven't seen a message yet so I thought I would just offer some help.  I get a daily email telling me if my business name has been mentioned on the internet and that is how I found out about this post.  

 

The gauge of the metal you are using is just fine!!  You need something solid (I mean really solid) to stamp on.  A metal anvil or a metal block about 1 inch thick is really necessary to make it work.  Then you also need a 16 ounce hammer.  Once you get all of that figured out let me know, by sending me a message on Etsy and I will help you with the rest of your project.  

 

Good LUCK!!  Thanks for the mention here!!

www.stephiemc.etsy.com

njh514

stephiemc:

Hello!

 

I haven't seen a message yet so I thought I would just offer some help.  I get a daily email telling me if my business name has been mentioned on the internet and that is how I found out about this post.  

 

The gauge of the metal you are using is just fine!!  You need something solid (I mean really solid) to stamp on.  A metal anvil or a metal block about 1 inch thick is really necessary to make it work.  Then you also need a 16 ounce hammer.  Once you get all of that figured out let me know, by sending me a message on Etsy and I will help you with the rest of your project.  

 

Good LUCK!!  Thanks for the mention here!!

www.stephiemc.etsy.com

Wow! Thanks. I'll see what I can find as far as a bench block goes. Thanks so much for the advice. I wish I had the cash to just have you do them all. I really love my necklace with my son's name on it! :-)