by Melinda Beachell / ga01182009
If you don't want to bother making them and would rather buy them, visit Melinda's etsy shop HERE

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I love finding a good "How To" when I want to learn how to do something new. I like all the goods...words, pictures and videos. Well I don't have a video for you today because I don't feel like being in it but I do have some words and pictures for you! What project are we going to learn the How to's of? Today it's my YW value washers. Really this is called we have a ton of YW and we don't have the budget to go out and buy the jewelry so I used washers! I think it's totally fab!



Okay, let's start with the materials you will need to complete this project. You will need a steel stamping set. This one is from Harbor Freight. There are many places online that sell these sets.



You are going to need washers. I got this from my oh so kind father-in-law. If you don't have one of those head on down to Home Depot.



Finally a nice heavy hammer and a hard surface where your hammering can take place. I do mine on the garage floor. Don't do it on your table...Your asking for trouble (I only know because I tried!).




The rest seems pretty obvious. You pick out the letters you need and hammer the stamp into the washer. Some tips...Pound your hammer down one to two times. Sometimes if you aren't holding the stamp firmly it jumps and you end up with a messed up letter. Also be aware that the washers are thicker than the jewelry pieces so you will have to do it harder than you would on a thin piece of jewelry metal.



When you are done it will look something like this...




Next step is to take a sharpie (love them) and color in your stamped washer.  (Plus Sharpie's come in many different colors, so it would be fun to try different colors).



It will look something like this.... I know a BIG MESS!!



Immediately after you color the washer you take a baby wipe and rub off the top mess.



That's it! Your done!

Remember when I said I don't have a video for you well I just remembered a good one I found on youtube! Here are some videos and a website that were very helpful to me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7etisColE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nGLFnbcRAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7w733hWOzM

http://www.beaducation.com/

Stamp away!

* You can click here and scroll down and see Bonnie's version of the washer necklaces....very cute!

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ADDITIONAL NOTE: I received an e-mail from Suzanne with the following question for Melinda.  I thought I would post her question and Melinda's response in case it helps someone else.

SUZANNE: Help! We are not having any luck with stamping on the washers. Did you use a bench block? We were going to have this for a craft at Stake Youth Conference for about 250 girls. Are we over our heads. We haven't tried the dogtags yet. Are they easier?

MELINDA: I'm a pro at this washer stuff now.  I acutally do my washers on my garage floor.  You can NOT do the washers on a table or even your kitchen floor.  It needs to be a flat, hard, solid surface.  You can go to the store and buy a bench block with a steel plate or you can even buy a steel bar to hammer on.  I don't have either of those.  You need to practice a little and have a nice heavy hammer (makes a big difference).  I had one woman tell me she went out and bought a bench block for about $15.00 and it helped her only because she didn't like sitting on her garage floor.  She also told me certain washers didn't work for her.  I have tried about 7 different types of washers and they all worked.  If everyone lived closer I would just have them come on over and show them how to do it!  

ADDITIONAL NOTE: "There were several questions as to where to get the dog tags for this craft idea. If you just need a few, I found some at Oriental Trading for 5.99 a dozen, these might be softer.  If you need several, you can get a box of 100 blank dog tags for $25 ----> here." (Shared by Kirsten Ball / ga03022009)

ADDITIONAL NOTE: ArmyNavy.com e-mailed me and said, "We wanted to let you know that in addition to whole boxes of tags (100 per box), we also sell singles (minimum just 10 blank tags) and also the long and short chains, and it looks like our pricing and shipping are better than the other site that is listed on your site (Oriental Trading). We've been doing dog tags for almost ten years, and we have tons of customers at all levels.  Click here for chains.  Click here for dog tags (both box and singles)."

ADDITIONAL NOTE: CLICK HERE to see how this gal has made her washer necklaces...cute!


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