Metal Stamped Bangle Bracelet

Hey, friends!  Today, I’ve got a new metal stamping project for you, plus a chance to win some supplies of your own so you can get started with this awesome {and addictive} hobby if you haven’t already!

METAL STAMPED BANGLE BRACELET

TIME REQUIRED: 15 minutes
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: intermediate
SPECIAL TOOLS: metal stamping tools and bracelet bending pliers
SPECIAL SKILLS: basic metal stamping

Materials:
{Thanks to ImpressArt and Goody Beads for providing mine!  All opinions are my own.}
– steel stamping block
– ImpressArt metal stamping hammer
– 1/4 x 6″ rectangular metal bracelet blank
– alphabet stamp set {mine is Bridgette}
– painters’ tape or Stamp Straight tape
– Nylon jaw bracelet bending pliers
– permanent marker
– rubbing alcohol and cotton swab

Step 1: Center your strip on the stamping block and tape it down.  Mark the center with a small line on your tape.

Step 2: Write out your phrase on paper and figure out which letter{s} are in the center.  Then, stamp that center letter.  For a step-by-step tutorial on metal stamping, check out my Introductory post!

Step 3: Continue stamping, working your way out from the center.  You can stamp any message or quote you like, or even kids’ names.  I chose the phrase, “Creativity takes courage.”

Step 4: Use the bracelet bending pliers to shape the metal into a cuff.

These pliers are seriously cool, guys!  You just place a little bit of the metal strip in them at a time and gently squeeze; all of a sudden you’ve got a beautifully shaped bracelet.

Step 5: Darken the letters you stamped using a permanent black marker.  Then, rub off the excess with a polishing cloth or rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.  This part can be a little scary, because before you wipe off the extra, it looks something like this!

But, I promise, the rubbing alcohol or polishing cloth will do the trick and leave you with perfectly darkened text…just like you really oxidized it.

Now, it’s all finished and ready to wear, either all by itself…

Or stacked with some other favorites, like my DIY Alex & Ani-inspired memory wire bracelets.

Fun, isn’t it?  You can also use these bracelet blanks and some of the same tools to make a really cool textured cuff…but I’m getting ahead of myself.  That tutorial is coming soon!