DIY Personalized Keychains

Courtesy of Michaels Craft Projects

Personalized Coordinates Mandala Keychain

Carry the coordinates for an important event with you everywhere you go with this Personalized Coordinates Mandala Keychain. Turn it into a trendy statement piece by adding a Mandala design and add a name for a touch of personalization. 

STEP 1

To make the Stamped Word Pendant, place a ¾" circle stamping blank on your steel block. Secure a straight stamp guide on the blank. TIP: Make sure steel block is on a hard, sturdy surface and use tape to secure the blank to the steel block so it doesn’t move while stamping.

STEP 2

Place your first stamp on the blank. Lightly drag the stamp towards the guide until the stamp catches the edge of the guide. Hold stamp flat and firmly in place by anchoring the side of your hand on workspace. Then strike stamp once with medium force using your metal stamping hammer. Repeat to complete your desired word. Remove stamp guide and set your pendant aside. TIP: If your stamp has an ImpressArt® logo, make sure it is facing you so that the impression is stamped in the correct direction. If not, double check that your stamp is facing the correct direction before striking with your hammer.

STEP 3

To make your Stamped Coordinates Pendants, first pierce a hole at one end of each rectangle blank using the 1/16" punch of the Two Hole Screw Down Hole Punch. Turn the handle of the screw down punch until the punch pierces through the stamping blank. Twist the handle of the screw down punch in the opposite direction to raise the punch and remove blank. TIP: Make sure not to screw the punch down too much as this will mar the surface of the blank and leave an unwanted impression of the base of the screw.

STEP 4

Place a rectangle stamping blank on steel block. Secure a straight stamp guide on blank.

STEP 5

Stamp desired coordinates on blank using the stamping techniques in Step 2. Remove stamp guide. Set these pendants aside, too.

STEP 6

For the Stamped Mandala Pendant, center the pattern grid over a circle steel blank to secure it to the steel block.

STEP 7

Start mandala pattern from the center using the lines and circles marks as guides to assist with spacing. Strike design stamps once with medium force with your stamping hammer. TIP: Use the Tilt and Tap technique to stamp 6mm and larger stamps or stamps with more details. While applying pressure to the stamp, strike once with medium force. Then without lifting stamp, continue to strike while very slightly tilting the stamp in a circular motion to catch all sides of the design.

STEP 8

Continue stamping to the outside edge of the blank, turning the stamping block while working to complete the curricular pattern. This will ensure that the stamp is facing the correct direction. Remove pattern grid.

STEP 9

Now that all of your pendants are stamped, highlight the impressions with enamel. Wait 3-5 minutes and then wipe away the excess enamel from the surface of the blanks.

STEP 10

Use the tips of two chain nose pliers to grasp the sides of a jump ring, with the opening of the jump ring facing up between the two pliers. Laterally twist each side of the jump ring in opposite directions to open the ring. Slide blank onto jump rings. Laterally twist the jump ring back with tension to close. Repeat on remaining blanks.

STEP 11

Attach both stamped coordinate blanks to one jump ring using the same technique in Step 10. Then attach this jump ring to another jump ring.

STEP 12

To create a key chain, attach all stamped pendants onto a split key ring. Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels