Wish Necklace - Craftwell DT Project

Hi Everyone! 

One of my past projects was a Cherry Blossom necklace using metal charms and Vintaj Embossing Dies/Folders.  There were also two really amazing projects on the Craftwell Blog using metal and the eBosser.  Caroline used Mocha 40 gauge metal by Ten Seconds Studio to make a really awesome tag.  And Debi used soda cans to make a really cool hair embellishment.   After seeing their two projects, I got up the courage to test out the metal charm blanks in a regular plastic embossing folder.  I've never done it before and I wasn't quite sure it would work.  First, I prayed to the craft gods that I wouldn't somehow harm my eBosser or the embossing folder.  Then, I tested it out on an embossing folder that I wouldn't cry about if I ruined, and it worked really well.  Awesome!!!  So, after that test run, I took out one of my favorite Craftwell Embossing Folders called Whimsical Wishes and embossed some beautiful charms that I made into a necklace.

The platform combination for this is the same as a regular embossing folder.  A plate on top, then embossing folder with the charm blanks inside, C plate, D plate on bottom.  The metal charms you use should be 24gauge thick. 


Supplies:
-eBosser by Craftwell
-embossing folder: Whimsical Wishes by Craftwell (letter size)
-Metal Charm Blanks: 1 - 34mm round (24gauge) and 3 small round circles (24gauge) by Vintaj
-Vintaj Patina in Verdigris
-Chain in antique brass
-jump rings
-2 seed beads
-clasp
-jewelry pliers - flat nose/needle nose; wire cutters to cut chain
-paint brush
-non stick craft surface (for painting on)
-disposable gloves
- safety glasses
- Vintaj Metal Reliefing Block



First, I placed the charms in the embossing folder on the parts that I wanted to emboss.  I placed the embossing folder in the platform stack ( A plate on top, then embossing folder with the charm blanks inside, C plate, D plate on bottom.) and embossed it in the eBosser.  The metal charms did mark up my embossing folder a little bit (see pic below on left), which I was concerned about, but after running a plain piece of cardstock through the embossing folder and eBosser, the cardstock came out clean and didn't have charm imprints on it (see pic below on right).

Next I sanded the embossed charms with the Vintaj Metal Reliefing Block. 

Then I applied the Vintaj Patina in Verdigris with a paint brush, let the charms dry, and then sanded them again with the reliefing block.

Then I cut 2 pieces of chain at 8 inches, attached the clasp on an end of each one with jump rings, and then attached the bigger charm with 2 jump rings on the other end of the chain. To hang the smaller charms, I attached each one to a piece of chain with a jumpring ( 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, and 2 1/2 inch chain lengths) and attached them to a jumpring with a seed bead in the middle to space them out. I then attached the jumpring to the back of the charm. (see below pic).

And now your necklace is complete and ready to wear!  I haven't had an issue with the patina paint coming off, but Vintaj does make a glaze that you can put on top of it.  I just haven't used it yet!  Make sure to wear safety glasses (especially when cutting chain) and gloves when painting and sanding. 

How cool is it that the eBosser can emboss metal charms with a regular embossing folder?!  I'm super excited about it.  Now, I'm thinking I may need two of each embossing folder from now on -- one for paper and one for metal.

If you have any questions please ask below. Have you tried embossing or cutting anything besides cardstock with your eBosser?

Happy Crafting! 
-Kim


edited to add:
I am also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. This week's challenge is metal-ology!  How fun!  Click the link above if you want to play along with their challenge too.