Grab their attention.....

In an effort to save my voice, some brain cells, and to communicate to other customers when I am busy with other customers, I have made some cute little signs. I've been using paper and marker and doing my best to cut out cute shapes and add decorations, but after all that, it's still just paper and marker, and they fly away in the wind even after using tape.


They are subtle, but I think they are classy. They don't scream. Sometimes if you whisper, people will hear you better.

TAKE ME HOME

The little signs are made of copper and I have two sizes of letter and number stamps. Read at the end of the blog entry to learn how to make them.

BUY ME!
HOW DOES IT FIT
SPLURGE INDULGE PAMPER

My next signs:
Prices for earrings, beads, bracelets, etc.
"CELL PHONE CHARMS"
"MAGNETS"
Perhaps a name tag?
"CASH OR CHECK PLEASE"
And in the near future "VISA" and "MASTERCARD"... wouldn't it be cool if I punched the whole logo for the cards?

I'LL LOOK GOOD ON YOU
TRY IT ON
PLEASE TOUCH

TAKE ME HOME
I'M YOURS

HOW TO MAKE THEM

WHAT YOU NEED:
-metal sheet, mine is copper
-cutters or scissors
-marker
-letter stamps ( Harbor Freight has them for $5)
-Metal hammer and rawhide hammer
-flat surface to pound on like an anvil or metal block
-wire brush or sandpaper to clean the metal
-green copper patina, paper towel, glass jar, tongs, paint brush
-clear acrylic paint or spray
-safety items: glasses, gloves, and dust mask

1. Select the size and shape of the metal sheet, cut it if you want a special shape. Make sure it is clean and free of oils. If the recessed letters are dirty, the patina is less likely to stick. Wash your hands.

2. With your marker, draw what you want to say. Make sure the spelling is correct, and the letters are the same size as the stamp letters.

3. Punch your letters into the design using the metal hammer. Put on your glasses.
TIP: Don't punch all the way through, and make sure the letter is the right side up. You can "roll" the punch at different angles to get more detail on a corner that didn't punch very well.

For the stamps visit here.

4. Flatten the piece by lightly hammering it on the back side against the flat metal surface. The rawhide mallet shouldn't make any marks, just help flatten it.

5. Clean off the new sign with the wire brush or sandpaper.

6. Time to patina! Keep your glasses on and put on your mask and gloves. Do not breath the chemicals. It is best to do this outside standing up-wind or if you have a great ventilation system in your studio do it there. Read all the information on the bottle for instructions and safety.

Place your glass jar on the paper towel and pour enough of the patina liquid to cover your sign into the jar. Place your sign into the liquid carefully as not to splash. Leave in for 3 minutes. When ready, grab the sign with your tweezers and place it on the paper towel facing up, and let dry. If you want more patina, paint more into the letters on on the edges.

7. Polish some patina off to the point you can read the letters clearly. You can use your wire brush or sand paper. (I used my Dremel with a brass brush. It was much faster)
Leave the edges raw with the patina if you want that look.

8. Coat the sign with acrylic. I used a spray can, and placed the signs on cardboard. Wear all your safety gear, and make sure the spray off does not spray onto anything else or into your studio or home. It's stinky and very toxic. After one side drys, flip it over and paint the other side.


Congrats! Your sign is finished. Use double sided tape to stick it on your display.

OPTIONAL
Drill holes so you can hang them with wire or strung. You can also turn them into earring holders by adding more holes on the bottom.
To draw more attention, dangle a bead off it. Give it some bling. Glue a silk flower, crystal, or give it a frit border. Perhaps, if you know how to enamel, transparent colors would be beautiful.

TIP
Go beyond the double stick tape. Glue a pin, magnet, or Velcro.