It’s a Charmed Life: Stamped Charms from Products You Already Have

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You can whip up custom stamped charms in just an hour or two, and you’ll look no further than your stash of craft and stamp supplies!

Author: Catherine Matthews-Scanlon
 
Did you forget Aunt Ida’s 75th birthday party was this Sunday, or that you needed to stop at the card store to pick up a package decoration for the gift you’re giving a friend at lunch tomorrow? Maybe you don’t have the money to buy something special for her? No worries, you can whip up custom stamped charms in just an hour or two, and you’ll look no further than your stash of craft and stamp supplies!
 
As an artist and all around crafter I have a large variety of goodies to choose from in my studio for just the right occasion. Take a peek at your stash with these things in mind and I’m sure you can find something to make for the perfect gift.
 
Think of your recipient as you look in the nooks and crannies for optimal supplies:

• I’ve found that most women love to get a charm or a piece of handmade jewelry.
• Men, on the other hand, enjoy special key chains or bookmarks.

 
Here’s a little inspiration to get you started:
 
Necklace Pendants:

You can make a pendant out of the most common supplies!

• Dig through an old unused domino game to find the perfect base for a custom charm.
• Stamp a decorative image on cardstock and adhere it to the face of your charm. Seal with a protective sealant to preserve. Drill a hole through and insert a bead wire to create a loop for hanging.

Use Shrink Plastic to Make Charms:

• Stamp an image onto shrink plastic material and make a small wind chime or wine glass charms! Be sure to punch a large hole in the shrink plastic material before shrinking.
• Don’t have any shrink plastic on hand? Dig through your recycling bin to find plastic labeled with a 6, like containers from your grocery store’s salad bar. This plastic shrinks when heated just like shrink plastic. Bake at 325º for 10 minutes or until desired size is achieved.

Make a Sun Catcher:

• Stamp a large image on paper and color using pens, watercolor paints or colored pencils then set in copper tape. Wrap with matching wire to create a loop at the top for hanging.
• Or, solder a jump ring on the top and bottom, hang the sun catcher in the window from the top ring and attach a prism to the bottom to create a beautiful sun catcher.

Bookmarks:

Here’s a fun and creative approach to making a bookmark that will not only be a conversation piece but a unique way to mark the page for the book worm in your midst.

• Make a charm with a pretty stamped pattern and a bottle cap.
• Attach to ribbon or twine and decorate with beads.
  

Beverage Charm:
Make a set of charms to hang around the stem of a set of wine glasses – the perfect gift for the wine connoisseur in your family.

• Wire, glass beads and a stamped wooden bead make this an inexpensive yet fun charm to make and give!
• Be sure to use a different image on each one to allow the person to recognize their glass.

Gift Tags:

• For the person that’s always giving gifts, like a grandmother with a lot of grandchildren, a nice supply of gift tags would make the perfect gift.
• You can stamp an image on white cardstock, hand-paint or color and attach to an office supply tag.
• Stamp “to” and “from” on the back and add a ribbon. Grandma will be pleased that you made her a lovely set of gift tags.

Now that you are thinking about stamped charms I’m sure you’ll come up with many other charming ideas to satisfy any person on your gift giving list! You can start making them today and be prepared for the next unexpected gift you need to give!