DIY Constellation Jewelry

Create custom pendants by setting crystal chatons in metal stamping blanks! This fun, easy, inexpensive project works well for small gatherings (bridal parties, crafternoons, solstice celebrations, baby showers, wine with friends…) Just a few supplies & three simple steps…

1) Select some metal blanks. We offer nice, mid-sized (19mm) round stamping blanks that work well as pendants and charms. Pick your favorite plating (antique copper, antique silver, antique brass or silver). A more organic shape in pewter is also a nice background for star-inspired designs. Before you set your stones, apply texture, patina or shine:

• Texture: Blanks can be left smooth, or can be textured using a chasing hammer. To texture, use the pein (or rounded end) to hammer lightly around the edges of your piece, or for a more dramatic effect, dapple the entire surface.
• Patina: Blanks can be oxidized or darkened using patina.
• Shine: For an ultra shiny piece, buff and brighten using ultra polishing pads (being careful not to overpolish!)

2) Pick a constellation and layout the stars. Clean your metal blank using rubbing alcohol. With a fine-tip black permanent marker, make dots in the pattern of your constellation on the blank. If you make a mistake, re-clean the blank and start again. Place the pendant on a metal block. Using a center punch, create a divot in the metal for each dot:

• If you are using standard punches and a brass hammer, place punch over the dot and gently hammer one time. Check the depth of the divot. Hammer again if needed (gently). Repeat until all dots become divots. Caution: too heavy of a hammer blow and these sharp punches will go all the way through the metal.
• If using an automatic punch, place punch over the dot and click down once. For a deeper hole, click down twice. Repeat until all dots become divots.
• If you want to use different sized sparkling chatons in your design, use the punch to make larger holes to fit the bigger sizes.

3) Set your crystal stars! Place stones one at a time as the glue dries very quickly!. Start with the smallest size stones and select the one you want to place. With the glue applicator tip, add a little glue into the hole. Place a chaton using tweezers. Repeat until all the stones are in place. Let dry. Attach pendant to a necklace using a jump ring. Oxidized satellite chain is a favorite, antique the chain and buff just the beads to bring some sparkle!

Parts & Supplies List:

• 1 bag #07-001-xxx Crystal Chatons
• 1 bottle #60-243 Bead Fix Glue
• 1 pair #65-040 Tweezers
• 1 center punch: Either #69-239 Automatic Punch or #69-364 Standard Punch Set with # 69-346 Brass Hammer
• 1 metal block: Either #69-125 Metal Block or #69-108 Small Metal Block
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swab (for cleaning metal blank)
• Fine tip black permanent marker
• A few stamping blanks
  • #44-741-06 River Stone Blank
  • #77-741-05 Circle Blank
  • #49-950-26-xxx Round Blank with Hole

Effects for Metal Blanks (optional):

• 1 bag #63-528 Ultra Polishing Pads
• 1 chasing hammer: #69-138 Basic Chasing Hammer or Fretz Chasing Hammer
• 1 bottle patina: # 86-310 Novacan

Finishing Materials (optional):

• 1 necklace #50-101-24-18 Satellite Chain
• 1 Jump Ring
• 1 spool 24 gauge Artistic Wire (in any color for linking the beads)
• 1 bag #05-045-04-02 4mm Swarovski Rondelle Beads in Aurora Borealis

Have fun making pendants! Happy Beading!