https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fallout-inspired-metal-stamped-bracelets • Posted by Soupy Beans
Learn how to make these nerdy Fallout bracelets while learning the basics of metal stamping. It is a project that is perfect for newbie stampers or stamping pros. Easily customized, works up quick, and makes an awesome gift.
Learn how to make these nerdy Fallout bracelets while learning the basics of metal stamping. It is a project that is perfect for newbie stampers or stamping pros. Easily customized, works up quick, and makes an awesome gift.
You'll first need to get your bracelet blank ready for stamping. If your blank is already flat, then you are in luck! But if you're blank is pre-shaped then you'll need to flatten it out.
Depending on the thickness of the blank you may be able to flatten it out with your hands by pushing it against your metal block like above, but if not just gently use your rubber mallet until it lays flat. It is totally fine if it doesn’t lay 100% flush with the surface, just get it as flat as possible.
Take your flattened blank and measure the length so you can find the center. Mine came out to about 14.5 cm so I just divided that in half (7.25 cm) and marked that as my center with a permanent marker. It is okay if it is a big mark, we will be rubbing that off later. But for now we will use it as a guide to center our phrase.
Now you need to choose which phrase you want to stamp onto the bracelet. You need to be sure to count the number of characters in your phrase, including spaces (for this one I had 22) and then find the center point. This point will be what you align with the center point that we marked earlier on the blank.
Then all you need to do is start stamping! Place the letter stamp where you’d like it and making sure that the letter isn’t backwards when stamped. Then just tap 2-3 times pretty firmly with your jewelry hammer. Be sure to keep the stamp steady otherwise it can shift and you’ll have a double printed stamp in the blank. I start in the center and work my way right and left but you can do whatever seems comfortable to you.
It takes a lot of practice to get use to aligning the letters, as you can see, mine are far from perfect. I’ve seen many people measure out tally marks on masking tape and tape it to the edge of the blank to help them align or practice on a scrap blank or piece of paper. Do whatever works for you!
When you’re done stamping, grab your permanent marker and start filling in the indentations making sure to press firmly and get ink into all of the spaces. It’s okay to get ink outside the letters, we will buff it off next. Filling in the indentations helps make the letters pop and make them much easier to read.
Next, take your cloth and buff off the excess ink. It might take a little bit of elbow grease but it’ll eventually come off. Be sure to admire your work before reshaping it back into a bracelet.
Take your round object, in this case a PVC fitting, that you are using to reshape the bracelet. Do as much as you can with your hands and then feel free to use your rubber mallet to get it fully rounded. Once the bulk of it is rounded you may have to do some bending on the ends so it can get back to its original shape.
This step is completely optional. I haven’t done any research into if this is healthy or not but it works wonders with these bracelets. I just put a light coat of clear fingernail polish on the inside of the bracelet, let it dry and BOOM! No more green wrists.
Now you’re finished! I love these little bracelets because you can layer them with others, wear them on their own, and flaunt your fangirl flag high without it being over the top. I have no doubt that I will be making tons of these for myself and as gifts for others.