Our precious…
Do you ever feel possessive of your favorite belongings? I moved our jewelry team’s Vintaj BigKick closer to the windows – a distance of maybe 15 feet – to get pictures and no fewer than three people stopped me!
Mollie made this sweet necklace during a demo in our Spokane showroom.
“What are you doing?!?”
“Where are you going with that?!?!”
Kickin’ it Vintaj style!
Really guys, the BigKick belongs to *all* of us – but I understand wanting to keep tabs on it: it is a super fun tool! Despite the name, the BigKick is actually a very small rolling mill. It is designed specifically to texture Vintaj Natural Brass blanks with their DecoEmboss folders and DecoEtch design plates.
Birds, trees, leaves, keys, clocks – embossing/etching folders are available in a ton of cute designs.
Simply choose a blank, lay it on the design, sandwich it between the plexi-glass plates and run it through the BigKick. The metal comes out with a reversible design, and since Vintaj brass has a natural patina, just few swipes with the metal reliefing block to polish the high points really brings out the details. (We’ve linked Vintaj’s YouTube demo videos right from the product listings in our online store if you’d like to see it in action!)
Simply turn the handle – it really is that easy to add beautiful texture to your jewelry!
We recommend using only Vintaj Natural Brass blanks with the BigKick machine as they are the right gauge and softness. If you use other items, you may be risking this precious machine! [ Update April 2016: These new 30-gauge aluminum blanks also work great! ]
One roll and you’ll be in love…
The Vintaj art heart blanks are sold in pairs – perfect for earrings!
If you’re buying a BigKick, you need three other things:
Embossing folders or etching plates
Flat Vintaj brass shapes/blanks
Metal reliefing block (sand paper or steel wool also work, but are not as easy to use)
And that’s it – instant gratification! Have fun kicking your style up a notch! ~ Cindy
18 Comments
I so want one of these! It looks so much easier than etching!
If you’re looking for instant gratification (and who isn’t?) then yes, the BigKick is easier! 🙂
I have a Big Kick, and I feel the same way!! Nobody better touch it!! Actually, I sometimes take it to my friend’s house, so she can use it. But I never leave it there – I always take it back home! lol
It’s a blast! And I’m anxious for Vintaj to release some new embossing folders!
The new Vintaj DecoEtch and DecoEmboss dies are now in stock! Yay! http://bit.ly/ImQmBf
What is the difference between a bigkick and a bigkick special edition? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find the answer. I want to know if it’s worth the extra money.
Hi Dedira! The difference is only skin deep – the machines work the same. There are no technical differences as far as I know. 🙂
Does the Big Shot work with these same products? I have one and it would be great to use it with my beading as well as my card making. If not where can I get the BigKick?
Hi Arlene, I think the Big Shot itself works, but not the BigShot embossing folders that you run through it.
You need the Vintaj DecoEmboss or DecoEtch folders. The BigKick and the embossing folders are available at http://www.rings-things.com ~Polly
Don’t forget that you can paint your embossed/etched pieces. The come out beautifully and it is so fun. I also double emboss/etch with different folders for a really different look.
I’m in love with this machine! I have been painting my pieces with the patina paint and the Ranger Distress Ink (and heat setting those ones), and it’s my new favourite machine. I’m happy Rings & Things has all the plates because I need more so I can make more jewellery. I’ve been waking up early every morning to get in some playing time before work, that’s how much I love this metal embossing! Thanks for introducing me to it, Rings & Things!
Hi Susan,
I’m glad you’re loving it — it is definitely one of our most fun tools. Not many tools are this easy to use, and provide such great results. We love their plates too, so will keep adding new ones any time they become available.
~Polly
I have had such fun with my Vintaj BIGkick!! I belong to a bead society and will be demonstrating my toy in a week or so. I’ve ordered some blanks for folks to play with. I’ve patinaed some of mine, but I won’t get into that during the demo. I’ll show them some of my pieces so they know what else they can do. I have to admit that I find it hard to use the relief block to enhance the patina — it seems that I rub and rub and don’t accomplish much. Any suggestions?
Hi Roz,
Did you get some wet patina on the relief block? If the block is gummed up, it won’t sand very well any more. Also, do you still have the box it arrived in? The box says which sides are the best grit for which purpose. It may be that you’re using a lighter grit than you want. But most likely, the sandpaper is getting used up / gunked up.
~Polly
Hi Roz,
I find that the reliefing block works great for taking off the patina that unpainted Vintaj blanks have, but removing the Vintaj colored Patinas does require either extra elbow grease or a burlier sanding pad. Check out 3M
Ultrafine sponges: https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Sanding-Sponges-800-1000-Grit and
Microfine sponges: https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Sanding-Sponges-1200-1500-Grit
for taking off the color a bit more quickly. Then you can touch them up with the block for a high shine.
~ Rita
I have this machine : she is ‘géniale’
Many thanks
Bri
Has anyone tried using the Vintaj DecoEmboss or DecoEtch folders in a Cuttlebug? It works virtually the same way and I can use other Sizzix products in it, so I’m curious if it would work with the brass blanks.
Hi Cindi,
Of course we can’t “recommend” mixing these pieces of equipment, but I’m with you, I think it will work, and that you’ll just have to find the right number of shims and platforms to make it emboss correctly. If you try it out, please share the results!
~ Rita
Hi, can I use sterling silver or gold-filled blanks with this machine? Any gauge recommendations?
thanks!
peggy