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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

CRAFT: Faux Stamped Necklaces (Using Vinyl)


**Edited 11/4/13: I've had some requests for the Silhouette file I used to get the sizing of the names right. I've included a link for the downloadable Silhouette Studio file HERE (only available in Silhouette Studio format.) These are the dimensions that worked for me. If you have different size washers than the ones I specified below, you may need to resize the circles and wording.**

When my daughter was born, I wanted to buy a cute personalized necklace to celebrate her birth. I loved all the stamped necklaces out there, but I felt like I could probably make something similar for less. The problem was, I don't own a metal stamping kit (although it's still on my list of wants!) Instead, I broke out my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl and came up with these cute faux stamped pendants!

These necklaces have the look of the expensive stamped jewelry, but they can be personalized however you want - and they make a great Mother's Day gift! (Think about how special it would be to give Grandma a personalized necklace with the names of her grandchildren on it.) You need a craft cutter (like the Cameo or Silhouette), a few jewelry findings and other supplies but believe me, it's worth it. This project is a go-to gift for grandparents, first time parents and everyone in between.


SUPPLIES: 2 sizes of washers found at any hardware store: 1 fender washer 1/4x1inch, 1 flat washer 1/2 cpack (these were the names and dimensions of the ones at my hardware store, but you can use whatever size you prefer), round nose pliers, wire cutters (not shown), Silhouette or Cameo craft cutter, black adhesive vinyl and transfer paper, thin chain (the smaller the better), findings: jump ring, head pins, and closure, crystals, Diamond Glaze.

Before You Begin:
First, you'll need to measure your washers to determine how big your wording needs to be. Open the Silhouette Studio, and create 2 circles slightly smaller than the size of your washers.


ONE: choose the type tool and type out the names that you want on your pendants (names of the parents or grandparents will go on the large washer and the names of the children on the small washer.) Stick to a simple font and type in caps for ease of cutting (I used Arial.) Also, you can use a small heart shape to separate the names of the children like I did.
TWO: as you type, you'll see a little circle with a plus in it to the left of the text (see picture above.) Click on the circle and drag the wording into the circle. The text will conform to the shape of the circle.
THREE: repeat for larger circle.

Creating Your Vinyl Wording:
ONE: use your Silhouette to cut out your wording on the black vinyl.
TWO: place your transfer paper on top of your black vinyl and press well. Peel your transfer paper upward to lift your letters. Note: you could peel up the vinyl to expose the letters first, but I found this method to be easier since the letters are so tiny and they tend to stick to the vinyl when peeled.
THREE: after you've transferred your wording to the transfer paper, use tweezers or your hook tool to weed out any small pieces of vinyl in your lettering.
FOUR: very carefully place your transfer paper on top of your washer (make sure they're clean first!) and press down evenly. Remove your transfer paper to see your transferred wording. If needed, you can use tweezers to adjust your letters some if they're a little wonky.
FIVE: seal your pendant with a coat of Diamond Glaze. Outline the washer on the outside and inside hole, then fill in with additional glaze. If there are any bubbles, put a lighter close to the surface of the glaze and they will pop. Let dry according to the directions on the bottle.
SIX: after your washers have dried, measure out the length you want your necklace to be and cut your chain to length. Stack your smaller washer on top of the larger one, then fold your chain in half and insert the loop through your washers as shown above. Lace the tails through the loop, then attach your closure at the ends of your chain.

Making Your Charms:
The charms are optional, but they add an extra special detail to the necklace by indicating the gender of the children on the pendants. Plus, they add a little bling :)

ONE: insert a crystal onto a head pin.
TWO: grasp the head pin a few millimeters above your crystal and make a loop by wrapping the wire around the side of your round nose pliers. Use your fingers to wrap the tail of the wire several times around your charm. Clip excess with your wire cutters, and attach to your necklace with a medium jump ring.

And now you have a beautiful, personalized necklace! This one below was made to celebrate the birth of my brother's first baby.


And of course I had to make one for myself. Now I have the special necklace that I've always wanted to celebrate my children! I've already made several of these for friends and family and they love them.



Have fun making one for your mother (or yourself!)
P.S. Thanks to the folks at the Silhouette blog for previewing this project!






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32 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I'm definitely going to make one of these. Thanks for sharing. Stopping by from Sugar Bee :)

    RamblingReed.blogspot.com

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  2. I NEED TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT YOUR CAMEO TO CUT THE SMALL LETTERS SO WELL AND THEN TO STICK TO THE CONTACT PAPER. I CAN'T GET MY LETTERS TO CUT WELL AND I USED THE SAME FONT YOU DID AND DID ALL CAPS AND BOLD LETTERS. DID YOU CHANGE THE CUTTING SETTINGS?

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    1. For the wording, you will probably have to play with the character spacing to make sure the letters dont touch. I used the standard vinyl cutting settings and then pressed really well with the contact paper. It may help to slow your cutting speed aomewhat. Then press the contact paper really well and peel up slowly, using your tweezers to help if needed. Hope that helps!

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  3. These are so FUN!!! Must work on this stat!!

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  4. how beautiful, i'm totally going to try this! found you through the Whatever Goes link up.

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  5. i WISHED i KNEW WHAT THIS WAS---Open the Silhouette STUDIO?????

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    1. Hi,

      Thanks for your question! Silhouette Studio is the design software the Silhouette and Cameo craft cutters come with. You can follow the links in the post for additional information, or please feel free to email me at jen(at)eatsleepmake(dot)com

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  6. I love this as well as other things you do. You are a creative genius. Now help me locate the Diamond Glaze. I have searched in Michaels and Hobby Lobby to no avail. Thanks in advance for your help.

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    1. Thank you!! I ordered mine online here: http://www.diamondglaze.com/ I heard, but haven't tried it) that Mod Podge makes Dimensional Magic which works the same: http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge-dimensional-magic-2-oz/92/cs11215/product.htm you should be able to find that at your craft store! -Jen

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  7. Now that is a good idea! I have tried to print things into the washers before, but they are hard as a ROCK!!!!!

    Thanks for sharing!!
    Keep ‘em coming… :)

    hugs xx
    Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

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  8. Wow, that is brilliant! What a smart little trick, and it looks amazingly real.

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  9. Love this idea! So smart! I have several stamping sets, but I think I like this better. There are so many more font options (and sooo much cheaper!) and, unlike the stamps, if you misplace a letter, just pull it up and put it back down! With stamps, you have to start all over if you mess up. And stamping is harder than you'd think! I love this, thank you for posting!

    I'd love for you to come share this at my link party this weekend. Hope to see you there!

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  10. This is an amazing idea! Love that it's so simple and the turnout is so pretty. Pinning to my crafty board :)

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  11. Love love love, been trying to do the same thing on mine but I use a different cutter and have not been able to figure out the design software to do this now I've seen yours I'm going to try again. They're fantastic well done! Pinning!

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  12. Oh, may, these are great! Do come link up this happiness with us at our party http://www.finecraftguild.com/party-65/ ! ~ Rose

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  13. I love this! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Do you by chance have a silhouette studio file that you could share since you seem that have perfected the font-to-washer ratio? :-)

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  15. I love this! Thank you for sharing. Welcome to letter necklace

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  16. I want to do this badly... I am a new grandma and having a hard time with the font to washer ratio too! Any tips you can provide will be greatly appreciated

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  17. Hi Theresa, I just updated the post with the link to the Studio file today :) Enjoy! -Jen

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  18. Thanks so much for providing that file! Now I will make one for myself with my 1 grandchils name on it Lola.

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  19. Do you sell these? I don't have a craft cutter but I love this idea!!
    Thanks, WG

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  20. daddyspet@comcast.netMay 27, 2015 at 7:05 PM

    I just updated the post with the link to the Studio file today :) Enjoy! -Jen

    Where exactly is this update? I cannot find it.

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    1. You can see the link to click on for the Silhouette Studio file in the top of the post.

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    2. LILLIAN A STEWARTMay 31, 2015 at 1:01 PM

      I saw it after I clicked send...lol. I do have one more question. I am confused as to what a flat washer 1/2 cpack is. I did a search and came up blank.

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    3. That's what the metal washers I used for this project were called at my local hardware store

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  21. Thank You for this tutorial !! I just made my first necklace from it. I did have to play around with the spacing to keep the letters from over lapping, but it was all a success ! To seal the washer & vinyl, I used Deco Art Triple Thick and it was AHMAZING !! Thank You again for taking the time to do this tutorial and share with us !! <3

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  22. Can these be made using either cricut or cricut expression?

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