Book Review - New Stamped Metal Jewelry: Innovative Techniques for 23 Custom Jewelry Designs

 New Stamped Metal Jewelry: Innovative Techniques for 23 Custom Jewelry Designs by Lisa Niven Kelly and Taryn McCabe

New Stamped Metal Jewelry: Innovative

Techniques for 23 Custom Jewery Designs

Copyright © 2017 by Lisa Niven Kelly and

Taryn McCabe.

It's been seven years since Lisa Niven Kelly published her first book, Stamped Metal Jewelry.  As the owner of Beaducation she knows what she is talking about and is a wealth of information.  At that time there were only 2 fonts available and limited types of design stamps and blanks.  Now there are hundreds of letter stamp sets to choose from and design stamps and blanks are limited only by your imagination.  Lisa has partnered with Taryn McCabe to bring you new designs and ideas.  Stamping has become incredibly popular and this book will walk you through the stamping process and help get your creative juices flowing.

There are five chapters and they are loaded with information:

• Tools & Materials
• Basic & Advanced Stamping Techniques
• Basic Wirework Techniques
• Supporting Metalworking Techniques
• Projects

The chapter on tools & materials is extensive but don't let that overwhelm you.  It's merely a guideline and it's extremely thorough, with detailed photos of each item and great descriptions of what each tool or piece does.  I found this chapter to be extremely helpful and jotted down several items that I'd like to add to my growing inventory of tools and supplies.  Don't worry, you can start your stamping journey with only a few items and add tools and supplies as you gain confidence and experience.

Novice stampers will appreciate the second chapter.  The basic techniques include how to align your stamps, how to center words, and getting familiar with the hundreds of available design stamps.  And yes, I can say from personal experience, those design stamps get really addicting!  They even include a birthstone chart in case you want to add birthstones to your creations.   I appreciated the section on the different ways to darken your letters.  A few I haven't tried yet but wondered about, so my questions were answered.  For the more advances stampers there is a great section on how to look at your design stamps and use them in new and intriguing ways.  If you want to learn more about edging and bordering, well, they have that covered as well.  Mandala stamping is big right now and the possibilities are endless.

Basic wirework techniques will help you when it comes to using jump rings,  making ear wires, and wire wrapped loops.  This is a short chapter but the photos and instructions are excellent.

Supporting metalwork techniques covers piercing, hole punching, drilling and filing.  Of particular interest to me was the section on riveting.  I cannot wait to give riveting a try.  It will add a new dimension to my work and I've wanted to learn more about it for quite some time.  Annealing is covered, as well a forming cuffs, using disc cutters, and sawing your own shapes.  This chapter will teach you techniques that will come in handy.

And last but not least, drum roll please, the meat and potatoes of the book and what we've all been anxiously waiting for - the Projects!   23 great new projects and ideas that range in skill levels from beginner to advanced.  A few of the projects include:

• necklaces
• cuffs
• earrings
• collars
• leather cuffs
• bar necklaces
• chevron earrings
• chain stitched pendants
• wire stitched earrings
• thick wire cuffs
• riveted bangles
• wire wrapped rings
• riveted rings
• dia de los muertos pendant - very cool!
• flower ring

Oh my gosh, the list just goes on and on!  There are some fun projects here and the instructions and photographs will go a long way in helping you to create these items.  I already have 5 picked out to try.  There are so many to choose from that I'd be interested to see what everyone else decides to make first.

New Stamped Metal Jewelry will be released May 22.  I hope you can wait that long!

In the meantime, you can visit the Beaducation website for tools, supplies, ideas and free how-to videos.  And get this -----Right now there is a spectacular sale going on.  From April 25 thru May 1 Beaducation is offering 6 ways to save money and pick up all those items you've been dreaming about.  Sale prices are only good for in stock items, so don't wait too long to place your order.

Beaduacation also has a FB page that you should check out if you're not already a member.

(I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Photo images are the property of the publisher and cannot be reproduced without consent.)