Metal stamping is a fun way to add texture to your metal blanks. It's not always about stamping words!  So I came up with this very easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial to show you what I mean.


The stamping blanks were sent to me  for review by ImpressArt.  I had previously reviewed their first offerings of their Soft Strike™ pewter line.  They have added not only new shapes to the pewter collection but extended that of another new metal, a tin alloy (lead and cadmium free) called Alkemé™.  The latter is even more cost effective tha the Soft Strike™.

metal stamping blanks
Soft Strike Pewter and Alkemé™
Both types of these sterling silver alternatives can be polished to a high shine but rather than do that, I opted to just stamp with the go-go (reminds me of the 1960's popular shape) Alkemé™ blanks.  These easy to stamp blanks meant I could really make deep impressions.

I used the flower stamp from the ImpressArt Lollipop stamp set (also used in the How to Make a Gilded Stamped Leather Bracelet Tutorial).  Tape down the blank so it doesn't shift.  Use a very heavy household hammer or brass hammer if you have it.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial


Make repeated strikes all over most of the blanks.  You can always cover the whole piece with stamping but I liked the partial look.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial


There is some distortion when striking on one side. So flip the blanks over and hammer flat with a nylon or rubber mallet. This softer hammer does the job without making any more marks on the pieces.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

Then heavily apply Gilder's Paste - they come in many colors - and get it into the depressions.
how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

Then wipe off the excess leaving the waxy pigments in the depressions. The random strikes really do create an interesting texture.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

Find some pretty bead caps and hammer them flat.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

Find the right size jump rings to compliment the design and attach the flattened bead cap to the front of the stamped blank.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

I always try and add a second jump ring whenever possible. This is for extra security as jump rings can fail.  In this case, there was an additional benefit, the two jump rings reduced the movement of the bead caps.

how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial

I rather like the holes of the blanks in this fun design. But you could always opt for fully round discs.


how to make easy stamped gilded earrings tutorial


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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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