Tutorial | Embossed Scroll Floral Pendant

I am so fascinated by art jewelry.  Among my favorite pieces are those that incorporate embossed metal designs like those from the team at Vintaj.  They absolutely blow my mind with their creativity.  I have been using their books (linked below in the supplies section) and their blog as instruction for teaching myself more about making art jewelry.  I recently made a pendant (shown above) that was born out of a mistake.

When I made the original, I created the embossed tile.  I loved the embossed design and the coloring I added using Ranger Vintaj Patinas.  I added a sentiment with metal stamping and made a mistake with it.  Rather than throwing away the piece, I decided to try to hide the goof by adding a rolled edge to the bottom of the metal blank.  It worked!  I decided to re-make the pendant so that I could share the step-by-step process with you.

Disclaimer- I don’t claim in any way to be a jewelry making pro, but I am learning and sharing.  Hopefully you will find some inspiration in the process with me! <3

As always, you will find a complete supply list with links at the very bottom of the tutorial.  Before we start, I want to share a video from PaperCrafter’s Corner of me at CHA demoing Ranger Vintaj Patinas.  If you have never used Patinas it is a good introduction to them.

And now, the tutorial…

To emboss the metal blank, you will need a Vintaj Sizzix DecoEmboss folder.  I used the Nouveau Roses design.  Always check your platform for instructions on which tab or shim you need for the DecoEmboss folders.  I used a tabbed platform opened to tab 1.

Place a cutting pad on the platform.  Place the DecoEmboss Folder printed side down on the cutting pad.  Place the metal blank inside the folder.  You can move it around on the design to choose what part of the image will be on your blank.  Close the folder over the metal blank.  Place the second cutting pad on top of the closed folder.  Run the stack through your die cutting machine (Vagabond, Big Shot, BigKick).

Remove the embossed blank from the folder.

When painting with Patinas you need a very small amount.  It dries quickly so only place a drop of the Patinas on your craft sheet for the piece you are working on.

Use a paint brush to apply the Patinas to the metal.  I wanted a blended look so I dipped my brush in all the colors and blotted it randomly on the piece.

Blot the piece lightly with a dry paper towel to remove some of the Patinas and to help with blending.

Patinas dry quickly so you will want to blot and relief very soon after applying the Patina.  You will want to relief it while the Patinas are still slightly tacky.  The longer it dries the more permanent it becomes.  If it dries completely before you relief it, you won’t be able to remove much color.

Use a Vintaj Reliefing Block to buff the Patinas off of the raised areas.  Begin with the dark sides of the block for the heavy work and then move to the light grey and white sides for buffing.

To keep the shine, seal the metal blank with Vintaj Glaze.  If you don’t seal, the natural brass with darken and age again with time.

Use a paint brush to apply Moss Patina to the round floral spray.

Add color to the small flowers.  (I used the brand new Petalite Patina.  Such a pretty pink! I believe it is shipping now so you should see it appearing in stores soon.)

Blot the Patinas with a paper towel.

Relief as desired.

If you remove too much color with the Relief Block or decide you want to add more shades, you can apply more layers of color.  Blot and relief as desired.

You can also add a small drop of Patina to a paper towel over your finger to buff a deeper accent color into grooves to add some aging.

A few light touches of a dark brown (Earth) will add a nice aged look.  Relief again as needed.

Seal the floral spray with Vintaj Glaze.  (I am using the original Glaze.  At CHA Ranger and Vintaj introduced a Matte Glaze also!)

Use round nose pliers to work the bottom edge of the blank into a rolled curled edge.

Create a tube with the curled edge.

Place the floral spray embellishment on the metal blank in the desired place.  Mark the opening with a fine tip black Sharpie.

Punch a hole over the mark using hole punch pliers.

Place a nail head rivet through the hole.  Place the head of the rivet on the back side of the metal blank.

Place the metal blank face up on a metal bench block.  You may want to put a dampening block under the bench blog.  Place the floral spray and a glass bead on the nail head rivet.

Use flush cutters to trim the nail head slightly above the glass bead.

Gently hammer the trimmed nail head until it is flattened over your bead.  When flattened, it will hold all the pieces in place.

Cut a 5″ piece of 20 gauge wire. Bend the wire to a right angle about 1 1/2″ from the right end.

Slide the wire through the tube of the pendant. Bend the left side of the wire straight down.

Cross the two ends of the wire about 1/4″ below the rolled edge of the metal blank.

Bend the left wire to the left where the two wires crossed.

Bend the left wire back to the right about 3/8″ below the first bend.  (This measurement can vary depending on the bead you use for the dangle.)

Place a teardrop faceted glass bead on the left wire.

Bend the left wire upward along the top edge of the bead.

At the tip of the bead, bend the left wire back towards the right.  You will have created a triangle like shape that frames the tip of the faceted bead.

Wrap the right wire around the top of the triangle wire frame at the tip of the glass bead.  Snip away any excess wire at the back of the wire wrapping.  Use a crimp tool if needed to help pinch the cut end into the wire wrapping.

Wrap the remaining left wire around the right wire.  Add beads if desired.

Trim the end of the wire and add a small wire closed loop at the end end the wire.

Add a jump right to the hole at the top of the wire blank.

Add a pre-made chain or create a chain cut to the length you want from bulk chain.  Add a clasp.

I love how truly unique this piece is.  I also love that it truly makes this glass bead a focal point.  I picked it up as a souvenir to a really amazing bead store on a trip with special friends.  I will always think of them and that fun day every time I wear it!