hand-stamped mandala necklace

Centre the circle pattern grid stamp guide over the 1¼" [3.2 cm] circle stamping blank to secure it to the steel block.

Use design stamps and uppercase or lowercase letters, like o, v, w, x, to make your own unique mandala pattern. Start mandala pattern from the centre using the lines and circles marks as guides to assist with spacing. Hold stamps flat and firmly in place by anchoring the side of your hand on workspace. Strike stamps once with medium force using the metal stamping hammer.
TIPS:
- If the stamp has an ImpressArt® logo, make sure it is facing you so that the impression is stamped in the correct direction.
- Use the "Tilt and Tap" technique to stamp 6mm and larger stamps, or stamps with more details. While applying pressure to the stamp, strike once with medium force. Then without lifting stamp, continue to strike while very slightly tilting the stamp in a circular motion to catch all sides of the design.
- Harder metals and stamps with more detail require a harder strike than softer metals and stamps with less detail.

Continue stamping to the outside edge of the blank, turning the steel block while working to complete the circular pattern. This will ensure that the stamp is facing the correct direction. Remove the pattern grid.

Highlight impressions with stamp enamel. Wait 3-5 minutes and then dab the excess enamel into the impressions with a paper towel before lightly wiping it away from the surface of the blanks.

Pierce two holes at the top (left and right) and one hole at the bottom (centre) of the stamped circle blank using the smaller punch side of the two hole screw down punch. Mark the desired location of the holes with stamp enamel. Line up the screw punch with the mark on the stamping blank. Once the punch and the mark are aligned, simply turn the handle of the screw down punch until the screw punch pierces through the stamping blank, leaving a clean crisp hole. Then twist the handle of the screw down punch in the opposite direction to raise the screw down punch and remove blank. Wipe off any remaining mark with a paper towel.
TIP: Make sure not to screw the punch down too much as this will mar the surface of the blank and leave an unwanted impression of the base of the screw.

Buff stamped blank to a brilliant, high-shine finish using high polish finish blocks. Use fine grit to quickly clean and polish blanks. Hold buffing block in the palm of the hand and move the block in even, back and forth strokes to remove dirt and dried enamel left on the raised surfaces. Use extra fine grit for buffing to a high shine. Hold buffing block in the palm of hand and buff in tiny, back and forth strokes with light pressure to get a mirror-like shine. Set stamped blank aside.

Cut the desired length of the chain from the spool using flush cutters. Create a necklace by attaching a lobster claw clasp to once side of the chain and a jump ring to the other. Use the tips of two chain nose pliers to grasp the sides of a jump ring, with the opening of the jump ring facing up between the two pliers. Laterally twist each side of the jump ring in opposite directions to open the ring. Slide clasp then the last chain link onto the jump ring. Laterally twist the jump ring back with tension to close. Repeat this technique to attach a jump ring to the other side of the chain. Then close the clasp.
TIP: Do not pull outwards on jump rings as it will weaken the metal and distort the circular shape.

Create wire wrapped beads to add into the chain. First string beads onto an eye pin. Grab the wire directly above the last bead with chain nose pliers and bend the wire to a 90° angle. Then use round nose pliers to grab the wire right at the bend. Wrap the wire all the way around the top jaw of the round nose pliers. Then with the wire still in the pliers jaws, rotate the round nose pliers so that the bottom jaw is on top. Continue to wrap the wire around the bottom jaw until a round loop is formed. Next, hold the round loop with chain nose pliers and wrap the wire down the eye pin towards the bead. Cut the excess wire with flush cutters. Use chain nose pliers to tuck in the remaining tip of the wire so no sharp edges are sticking out. The wire wrapped beads should have two round loops on either side. Repeat to complete the set of wire wrapped beads. Set wire wrapped beads aside.

Create a tassel using one or two of the pre-made chains. Cut chain into even lengths using flush cutters. Then open the jump ring located at the end of one of the pre-made chains and slide the last link of all the cut pieces of chain onto the open ring. Close jump ring to secure the chain in place and form a tassel. Discard the clasps at the end of the necklaces. Set tassel aside.

Fold the hand-made necklace chain in half at the clasps and cut the chain in half with a flush cutter. Add the wire wrapped beads into the chain by using the jump ring technique to open the eye pin loop at one end of the wire wrapped beads. Then connect the bead end of the chain to stamped blank using a jump ring Repeat to connect the other side of the chain to stamped blank.

Finally, attach the chain fringe to the bottom of the stamped blank using a jump ring.

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