Make Your Own Metal Keepsake
Make Your Own Metal Keepsake
Couldn't load pickup availability
A hands-on, beginner-friendly crafting experience in Big Bear—no prior metalsmithing experience necessary!
Spend a relaxed 1.5 hours working with real metals to create a completely custom piece to take home. Using copper, brass, and nickel silver, you will learn foundational cold-connection techniques to design a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Perfect for locals, visitors, date days, or creative learners.
What You'll Make
Choose one of the following items to create during the session:
- A Pendant: Ready to wear on a cord or chain.
- A Keychain: A durable, handmade keepsake for everyday use.
- A Bag Charm: A unique metal accent to carry with you.
What You'll Learn
- Texture & Shape: Experiment with hammers, design stamps, and layering to build your pattern.
- Cold Connections: Learn how to accurately mark, drill, punch, and assemble your pieces using rivets.
- Finishing: File, smooth, and polish your creation until it's ready to wear or use.
Details & Logistics
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Class Size: Intimate group (maximum 4 participants). Plenty of one-on-one guidances.
- Tuition: $40 per person (includes all project materials, use of professional studio tools, and step-by-step instruction)
- Age Requirement: Beginner-friendly; younger participants must be accompanied by an adult.
_______________________________________________________________________
Safety & Dress Code
- Closed-Toe Shoes Required: Open-toed shoes, sandals, or flats are strictly prohibited for your safety around heavy tools, benches, and dropped equipment.
- Appropriate Clothing: Wear natural fibers (such as cotton or denim) instead of loose, flowing synthetics, and avoid dangling sleeves or loose clothing that could catch on machinery or tools.
- Hair & Accessories: Secure long hair back, and remove long necklaces, scarves, or dangling bracelets before entering the workspace.
- Eye Protection: Safety glasses will be provided and must be worn during active cutting, hammering, or torch work.
- Workshop Attire: Bring a sturdy denim, canvas, or workshop apron if you have one, or wear older clothes that you don't mind getting stained by dark metal patinas, polishing compounds, or workshop grime. I have some available to borrow as well.
Share
Care information
Care information
Wear your beautiful jewelry with confidence! Did you know that your body oils can actually help protect metals from tarnishing? It's true! So, don't hesitate to put on your favorite pieces and let them shine. Your natural oils create a protective barrier that keeps tarnish at bay. Just remember to give your jewelry some love and care by cleaning it regularly and storing it safely when you're not wearing it. With a little TLC, your jewelry will continue to dazzle and make you feel fabulous!
As a general rule for all jewelry, avoid abrasives, chemicals like perfume, hairspray, household cleaners and bleached (pool) and sea water. Regular water and mild soap is ok, although excessive exposure to moisture will shorten the life of your jewelry.
Remove before certain activities: Take off your jewelry before engaging in activities that may put it at risk of damage, such as exercising, playing sports, or doing heavy manual work. This helps prevent accidental tugging, bending, or scratching.
Store it properly: When you're not wearing your gold-filled jewelry, store it in a dry and safe place. Consider using a soft pouch or jewelry box with separate compartments to prevent scratching and tangling.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy that contains a 7.25% of copper. Copper tarnishes and oxidizes which in occasion is nice but some people don’t like it.
To solve this issue, use a cleaning solution found in jewelry supply stores or drugstores. Follow directions.
There are good polishing cloths that will do the trick too. Those are specially good to highlight parts when the piece has an oxidized finish. You can find them here
Gold Filled
Gold-filled is made by heat- and pressure-bonding a thin layer of karat gold to a brass (or other base metal) core. The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film, as is the case with gold-plated items. The karat gold covering also significantly increases the tarnish resistance of the base metal substrate.
Because of this thick layer of gold, it is hypoallergenic and will last a lifetime if cared for properly following instructions above. Sunshine Polishing Cloths are excellent to keep your gold-filled jewelry shining like new.
Brass - Bronze
The copper content in certain metals can cause the skin to turn green or the piece to tarnish, depending on individual skin chemistry and environmental factors. Humid weather may increase the need for maintenance. Applying a thin layer of lacquer or clear nail polish can protect the skin from discoloration, although it will wear off over time and require reapplication. Storing the jewelry in an airtight container, such as a zip-lock bag or one with a tarnish inhibitor, can help prevent tarnishing. Remember, everyone's experience may differ, so taking extra care can help maintain the jewelry's appearance.
Friendly reminder: Copper is an essential trace element that offers various benefits to the body. It plays a crucial role in enzyme function, acts as an antioxidant, aids in iron absorption, supports the immune system, contributes to collagen production, and helps maintain proper nervous system function. While it may cause temporary skin discoloration, copper is not harmful and provides important health benefits.
Leather
Leather items must be kept out of water as possible. Occasional moisture is ok, but do not submerge or shower with leather item to enjoy its beauty longer.
For any additional concerns please don't hesitate to contact me
