DIY Father’s Day Gifts with Stamping Blanks

Make a personalized gift with special, customized words for Dad. A new alternative to sterling silver, Alkemé™ stamping blanks make personalizing gifts easy and fun.

Made with a newly formulated, non-corrosive metal alloy, these metal discs allow for intricate, detailed stamping at just a light tap of a hammer. Plus, Alkemé™ stamping blanks are lead-, nickel and cadmium-free. Just buff with a soft cloth, like you do with silver. It’s a great, affordable option to using sterling silver, and looks fantastic.

Leather KeyChain with Alkemé Blank

GoodyBeads.com | Blog: DIY Father’s Day Gifts with Alkemé™ Stamping Blanks - Leather KeyChain — Designed by So Vang

Dads are heroes, don’t you agree? They fix the sink when clogged, change out the burned-out light bulb, chase away monsters under your bed and even drive you to the mall. We have this easy leather keychain to remind him of his superhero qualities. Refer to our How to Rivet blog post for a tutorial on how to rivet leather and our metal stamping blog post on how to stamp metal blanks.

What you’ll need:

Stamped Alkemé blank
6” of 10mm leather
Key Ring and jump ring
6mm compression rivet and 6mm rivet setter
Metal working tools

Step One: Stamp your Alkemé stamping blank.

Step Two: Cut 6” of 10mm flat leather. Punch a hole at the ends. Optional: Cut the corners of your leather ends.

Step Three: Punch a hole 2” away from one end of your leather.

Step Four: Loop your 2” gap hole over your key ring. Loop the other end to sit on top of your other leather end and rivet the three hole layers together with a 6mm rivet.

Step Five: Attach your Alkemé stamping blank with a jump ring to key ring. Done.

Leather Cord Wrap Bracelet

This simple bracelet is for the fishing enthusiast Dad. Using this stylish fish hook clasp, 2mm leather cord and an Alkemé dangle blank, he is sure to wear this bracelet all day, every day, fishing, or non-fishing.

What you’ll need:

Step One: Stamp your Alkemé stamping dangle blank.

Step Two: Fold your 2mm leather cord in half and tie a loop.

Step Three: Cut to accommodate two wraps around wrist, plus an extra 5” for the knot. Loop the end through the fish hook clasp loop and make a slip knot. Follow arrows. Pull ends to tighten knot. Cut excess leather end.

Step Four: Attach your Alkemé stamp blank with a jump ring. Done.

Leather KeyChain with Alkemé Blank

(1) MCKR0002 – Key Ring
(1) Z009650 – 1 1/4 Inch 18 Gauge Silver Dog Tag Alkeme™ Metal Stamping Blank
(1) A001530 – 8mm Jump Ring
(6) CH00185 – 10mm Brown/Turquoise Flat Leather
(1) TC01679 – 6mm Antique Copper Compression Rivet
Tool: TC01812 – 6mm Rivet Setter
Letter Stamps: TL00191 – 3mm Bridgette Metal Letters Stamping Set

Leather Cord Wrap Bracelet

(1) A019153 – 5/8 x 1/4 Inch Oval Tag Soft Strike Aluminum Stamping Blank
(1) A021702 – Antique Silver Multi Fish Hook
(1) Y002922 – 1.3mm Natural Orange Leather Cord
(1) A001530 – 8mm Jump Ring
Letter Stamps: TL00191 – 3mm Bridgette Metal Letters Stamping Set

Memorial Day DIY Jewelry

Memorial Day is a special day to honor those who have died while serving in the United States of America armed forces. We have a few DIY jewelry projects to commemorate this day and all American holidays.

Red, White and Blue Flat Leather Bracelet

Here’s a clean and sleek bracelet made from 5mm flat leather and rivets. First, measure four strands of leather at your wrist size plus two more inches for the loops. You can learn how to rivet leather loops by reading our previous blog. Make sure to loop your ends through the bar end before you hammer your rivets. Add a clasp and you are ready to rock to the beat of an American song.

(9) CH00046 – 5mm Red Flat Leather
(9) CHZ0044 – 5mm White Flat Leather
(9) CH00184 – 5mm Navy Flat Leather
(2) TC01720 – 1 Inch Gold Distressed End Bar
(2) A011522 – 6mm Gold Plated Jump Ring
(1) A019949 – Round Gold Magnetic Clasp
(8) TC01450 – 4mm Brass Oxide Rivet

Red, White and Blue Wrap Around Cord Bracelet

GoodyBeads.com | Blog: Memorial Day DIY Jewelry – Red White and Blue Leather Cord Wrap Around Bracelet using 2mm leather cord strands and clamp clasp. — Designed by So Vang

We made this bracelet easy to wear, make, and adjust. Take a strand of red, white and blue 2mm leather cord and line them up at one end. Take a silver clamp and clamp the three ends with serrated chain nose pliers. Hold your strands together and evenly straighten your strands. Make a flush cut at the other end and use another silver clamp to clamp those ends. Add your clasp and a simple USA charm. What’s versatile about this bracelet is that you can add knots in between your leather cords if you find the bracelet to be a bit loose. Plus, we think the added knots are a neat feature to the bracelet. Wrap 4 or 5 times around your wrist for a fire cracking weekend.

(1) A013401 – 2mm Navy Leather Cord
(1) A013406 – 2mm White Leather Cord
(1) A013408 – 2mm Burgundy Leather Cord
(2) A012441 – 10mm Silver Plated Clamp
(1) A019951 – Round Silver Magnetic Clasp
(3) A001529 – 6mm Silver Plated Jump Ring
(1) Z010064 – USA with Stars and Stripes Charm

Red Poppy Pin and Ring

GoodyBeads.com | Blog: Memorial Day DIY Jewelry – Red Poppy Ring and Pin made with Czech dagger beads and Swarovski crystals. — Designed by So Vang

You will find red poppies being adorned and worn on Memorial day. Here is a quick tutorial on how to make these red poppy pin and ring.

Red Poppy Pin

What you will need:

(19) A010294 – 12mm Siam Glass Dagger Czech Beads
(7) A010288 – 12mm Jet Glass Dagger Czech Beads
(1) SW00135 – Swarovski® 8mm Bicone Crystal Beads Light Siam
(1) SW00101 – Swarovski® 8mm Round Crystal Beads Jet
(1) TC01257 – 2 Inch Silver 21 Gauge Headpins by TeirraCast
(1) MCPN0001 – 1 Inch Long Silver Plated Bow Tie Pins
A006588 – Smoke Fireline Thread

To make the pin, you will make Czech dagger rings by threading on Czech daggers and making a knot with the thread ends. Cut off excess thread. You will need to make three rings with 10 red Czech dagger beads, 9 red Czech dagger beads and 7 black Czech dagger beads.

Next, slide on your headpin the 8mm black round crystal, black dagger ring, red dagger smaller ring, red dagger larger ring and 8mm red bicone crystal. Make a simple loop. Open the headpin dangle loop and attach to the loop on the bow pin.

Red Poppy Ring

What you will need:

(17) A010294 – 12mm Siam Glass Dagger Czech Beads
(1) SW00101 – Swarovski® 8mm Round Crystal Beads Jet
(1) A015180 – 12mm Adjustable Silver-Plated Ring
A015821 – Super New Glue
A006588 – Smoke Fireline Thread

For this ring, you will need to make two rings with 10 red dagger beads and 7 red dagger beads. Use a fast-drying glue, like Super New Glue to add to the base of your ring. Lay the larger red ring on top and press down with your finger. This will help the ring to lay flat. This should only take a few seconds to dry. Add some glue on the inner part of the red dagger ring and add your smaller red dagger ring. Hold it in place with your finger for a few seconds. Add some glue to that layer and place the jet round crystal on top.

Using Cold Connection in Jewelry: How to Rivet Leather

Cold connection is a unique metal technique that connects metal components without the use of heat. While you can connect metal pieces by glue or other adhesive, we will demonstrate some basic steps on how to use rivets with leather.

You will find many cold connection and riveting techniques in steampunk jewelry and metalworking. Once you have the basic tools and components for metal working and rivets, you will find how easy this versatile skill can be used for jewelry making.

GoodyBeads.com | Blog: How to Rivet - Leather Bracelet Rivet — Designed by So Vang

Rivet Leather (Part One)

For this project, we are using TierraCast® Rivets to show how to rivet on leather. When riveting on leather, use a two-part compression rivet, which will have a bottom and cap piece. Two-part compression rivets are best for leather, as they will create a tighter hold if you are adding embellishments with the rivets.

Tools Needed for Leather Riveting:
Steel Hammer, Bench Block, Leather Hole Punch Pliers, and TierraCast® Rivet Setter.

Punch leather through the backside using the Leather Hole Punch. Make sure to punch a hole that is large enough for the rivet to sit it, but not too big. If the hole is too big the rivet may not catch the leather, and may fall out. Tip: Punch with the smallest setting first. Increase hole size if the rivet does not go through.

Insert bottom rivet piece through the backside of the leather and put cap piece on top.

Press the two pieces together until it stops. Place on Bench Block.

Use the Rivet Setter that complies with the size of the rivets. i.e. 4mm rivets will need the 4mm TierraCast® rivet setter tool, while 6mm rivets will use the 6mm TierraCast® rivet setter. Use steel hammer to hit the rivet setter with 2-3 good strikes.

You can sandwich in TierraCast® Components for added embellishments. Or for our bracelet, we used TierraCast® Breathe Link. Use Bending Pliers to curve the link. Line up the leather behind the link and mark the holes of where the rivets will go. Punch the holes where you marked them and rivet the link to sandwich the leather and link together. Glue your clasp and you are done.

Rivet Leather (Part Two)

GoodyBeads.com | Blog: How to Rivet - Watch Rivet — Designed by So Vang

Make leather loop for jump rings, clasps, or joining components together. Create this wrap-around leather watch by using these two part compression rivets. Cut two 12” 5mm flat leather. Make leather loops on all four ends. Attach your clasps and watch face for a fun wrap-around leather watch.

Measure an inch distance between the holes. Punch with Leather hole punch pliers.

Fold and insert your top and cap pieces.

Hammer the rivets with your rivet setter and you are done.

Make loops to add jump rings and clasp as shown in this watch bracelet example.

Leather Bracelet

(1) TC02030 – Breathe Link
(1) Z003952 – Brass Magnetic Clasp
(7) CH00259 – 10mm Burnt Orange Flat Leather
(1) TC01450 – 4mm Brass Rivet
A015821 – Super New Glue

Wrap-Around Leather Watch

(1) Z001647 – Gold Watch Face
(4) TC01450 – 4mm Brass Rivet
(1) A019947 – Antique Brass Magnetic Clasp
(2) Z011513 – 5mm Brass Jump Ring
(24) CH00043 – 5mm Tan/Black Flat Leather