Lisa Kelly - New Stamped Metal Jewelry: Innovative Techniques for 23 Custom Jewelry Designs

Its been seven years since Lisa Niven Kellys first book, Stamped Metal Jewelry, was published. Her book continues to be a valuable resource, with wonderful basic information on stamping. With this book, Lisa has partnered with Taryn McCabe to bring even more designs and perspectives.

This new book picks up where Lisa left off and covers all of the awesome and exciting new things that have happened in the stamping world in those seven years (theres a lot to cover).

When Lisas first book came out, there were two fonts to choose from. If you wanted a really special letter set, you had to pay megabucks to have it made for you. Lisas company, Beaducation, created the very first non-block font in mass production, and it was an instant hit. Today there are hundreds of letter sets to choose from, varying in font, size, thickness, design, and much more. There are thousands of design stamps to choose from. Even blanks have evolved so that you can create a beautiful piece of jewelry that requires minimal metal fabrication, requiring less time to create something that looks as though it came from a high-end boutique.

Lisa and Taryn want to demystify stamping so that anyone can feel comfortable approaching this technique, and fall in love. All of those bar necklaces you see with names, witty comments, or even expletives stamped on themyou could be making those tonight! Stamping still has a beautiful, classic history that includes hand-stamped family necklaces that bear the names of all your loved ones. But this craft has also developed into so much more. Stamping spans new styles, trends, and fads. One project, the Peter Pan Collar, is a necklace that bridges the gap between jewelry and clothes. Other projects include wearing poetry around your wrist, or a beautiful memorial around your neck.

In this book you will learn not only how to stamp but also how to look at things differently with a new perspective. There is a new movement underway in stamping, and you can be a part of it. Pick up your hammer and help shape the future of stamping!

I first learned about stamping when I took a class from Lisa in 2003. I had no idea what stamping was. Two hours later and I was in awe that one short class could produce such phenomenal results, creating personal jewelry using just a hammer, steel stamps, and metal blanks.

In the Fall of 2012 Lisa offered me the position of lead designer at Beaducation. I was out of practice and my stamping showed it but Lisa let me keep working, and within weeks my stamping vastly improved.

My experience with stamping is the perfect example that practice really does make perfect! Whether you are new to stamping or a seasoned veteran, you will find many useful tips and tricks in this book. Lisa and I have an immeasurable amount of time and experience between us that we are very excited to come together and share with you here.

As Taryn mentioned, she and I first met in a class at a bead store. She immediately grabbed my attention as one of the most creative people I had ever met. The day she came to work for me was a great day. I felt so lucky to have her. Within weeks her stamping skills surpassed mine. She created designs with stamps that I could never imagine! She is one of those people that you can throw any supplies and tools at and she will create a masterpiece! She continues to inspire me with her creativity, and I am honored that she agreed to coauthor my second stamping book. We are thrilled to be showing you some tips, tricks, and designs that we have discovered with metal stamping. Welcome! Now grab some tools and lets have some fun!

To start stamping, youll need a basic set of tools. Once all these tools are on hand, you can make an endless number of projectsall you have to do is replenish your metal supply every now and then.

• Darkening Solution/Permanent marker A
• Hammer B
• Safety Glasses C
• Stamping Tape D
• Hole Punch E
• Practice Metal F
• Polishing Pads G [or #0000 Superfine Steel Wool]
• Bench Block H
• Design Stamps (see opposite page)
• Noise-Canceling Headphones

TIP: Typically with number sets, the 6 and 9 will be the same stamp. Just flip the 6 upside down to stamp a 9.

Yep, thats your number one toolyour stamps. If you are like us, you will love collecting stamps. And, wow, the number of designs and letter sets available is amazing, and so fun! Keep in mind the purpose of the stamps you buy. If you are stamping on stainless steel, you will need to purchase stamps that specifically say they will work on stainless. If that isnt mentioned in the stamp listing, you can assume it will not work on stainless. If you use a stamp that isnt rated for stainless, you will dull and flatten (ruin) the stamp each time you strike it to that hard metal. There are also metal stamps used to stamp into leather. Those will not work on (imprint into) metal.

Stamp sets of letters and numbers can be found in a variety of fonts, sizes, and quality. When Lisas first stamping book was published, there were only a few fonts available; now there are literally hundreds. We prefer higher quality sets that come in a compartmentalized box, ones that are made from high-quality tool steel and that have an indicator on the side of the stamp to show which way to orient the letter when impressing it. Generally speaking, sets made in the United States are a bit higher in cost and quality.

Design stamps come in a huge variety of shapes, motifs, and sizes. You can add a design to your project to depict personality, hobbies, nature, or just a beautiful design. In this book, we have numerous projects that show you how to create a pattern with design stamps to achieve a gorgeous effect. As with letter stamps, you will find a large variety of quality. Look for a design stamp with a sharp impression and an indicator on the side to help you line up the design correctly.