Enamelings Tips: Using Rubber Stamps!

If you've ever walked into a Michael's or a Hobby Lobby, chances are that at one time or another, you walked out with one of these:

Believe it or not, it's possible to use rubber stamps and a simple embossing pad (watermark pads work too!) to create patterns on your enameled pieces. Simply load up your stamp with embossing ink, and press firmly onto a previously enameled metal component.

Then sift a very large quantity of a contrasting color onto the component - really load it up.

Firmly tap off the excess (hold the piece by the edges so you don't smudge) and load it up again to fill in any spots you may have missed. Then place your components on trivets and torch fire until glossy.

The piece on the right just came off the fire - it will cool to match the color on the left.

It really is that simple! Don't use stamps with very fine lines, which don't hold the enamel grains too well, but otherwise there are really no limitations.

Components ready to be made into earrings!

(Thanks to my awesome students from today's enameling class for being patient while I prepped for this blog post - extra special thanks to student Letty Wilde for taking the "action" shots while I did my demonstration.)

So pull out that stash of rubber stamps left over from your scrapbooking days and go to town! And let me see what you create!

Until next time -