Made a Mistake? Don't Throw That Stamping Blank Away!

It is inevitable, we’re all going to goof at some point. Don’t fret – it is never a complete waste!   Here are three ways to use that blank in a finished piece:

Redo: Stamping over or restamping is tricky, but might be worth a try if you’ve already made a mistake. If you didn't have even pressure on your stamp and only part of letter or design impressed, try carefully lining the stamp back up and stamping it again using the tilt 'n tap method. 

What about stamping the wrong letter? Depending on the letters and font you're using, you may be able to stamp over it with the correct letter. Check out the sample below. Has this ever happened to you?

Ah man, I stamped a "c" rather than an "o"! 
Oh well, maybe I can just take the "o" and carefully line it up and whack it over the "c".
Success! Hooray!

Resurface: Try using a chasing hammer to give the blank a hammered look. Lightly hammer all over the blank until the stamped mistake is camouflaged and then restamp. 

Below, you can see that my "O" in the word TOM is not lined up properly. By texturing the entire blank, the mistake is covered up and I can align all the letters properly. I love the hammered look!

​Repurpose: Incorporate the blank as a component of a more intricate piece via soldering or riveting.

And here are two more ways to salvage the blank without having to throw it out:

Reuse: Keep these blanks handy for testing purposes. Experiment with texture hammers; explore different finishing effects such as sanding, using steel wool, brushing; try out a new design stamp to see how it stamps in that type of metal; play with patinas; or practice riveting.

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