Merry Tag Tutorial

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue

Designer Tips

Clean the door blanks in a tumbler for 2-3 hours, or with fine-grit sandpaper and a polishing cloth.
Find a pleasing portion of the Christmas tin, that fits in the window of the door blank. Draw around outside of door blank with a fine-point permanent marker. Cut tin with shears.
Stamp a word or phrase on the front, and add texture as desired with texturing hammer(s). Stamp or hammer a design or pattern on the back too.
To make your pattern stand out, antique the brass pieces with Win-Ox. Dry thoroughly and polish as desired. Don't wait until the end to antique your design, as you don't know exactly what the "tin" is made of.
Sandwich the tin between the 2 piece of the door blank, align edges carefully, and hold bottom half in place with Ring Clamp. Wedge clamp firmly to hold tight.

Punch a 3/32" hole through all 3 pieces, in one top corner. Slide a 3/32" diameter 3/32" long eyelet through this hole, and use the 3/32" eyelet flaring set to secure it. Repeat for other other top corner.
For bottom corners, use 1/16" cutter and rivets.
File and/or sand any rough edges if necessary.
To use wire rivets and tube eyelets instead of the Crafted Findings riveting system, see Riveting Techniques (PDF).

Free Technique Sheets & How-Tos

Suggested Supplies

1 pkg of 10 sets [use 1 set] #44-721-02 Blank, Rectangular Door with Round Window (Raw Brass)
1 spool [use 4"] #40-881-6 Chain, Footage, Ball, 2.4mm, 100ft (Antiqued Brass Plated)
1 pkg of 100 [use 1] #40-801-6 Clasp, Ball Chain, 1.8-2.4mm (Antiqued Brass Plated)
1 pkg of 120 [use 2] #69-952-01-2 Eyelet, 3/32", Assorted (Brass)
[Use second-shorted size (3/32" long)]
1 pkg of 10 [use 1] #37-015-11-6 Jump Ring, Locking, Oval (Antiqued Brass Plated)
1 ea #86-915 Renaissance® Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish
1 pkg of 100 [use 2] #69-920-01-2 Rivet, 1/16", Sample Pack (Brass)
[Use second-shorted size (3/32" long)]
1 ea #86-343 Win-Ox™, 3 oz.

Tools

#63-549-RT Jewelry Care Cloth, 6x8", R&T Logo
#69-257-000 Polishing Paper, Assortment, Wetordry™ (Assorted) [Optional]
#69-355-08 Shinebrite™, for Tumbler, 8 oz.
#69-244-24 Tool, 1/12" Stamp Set, Lowercase Verona, 27pc (Tempered Steel)
#69-900 Tool, 1/16" Rivet Piercing/ Setting (Steel)
#69-908 Tool, 3/32" Eyelet Flaring Set
#69-904 Tool, 3/32" Piercing Set (Steel) or #69-235 Tool, Metal Punch, Two Hole
#69-366 Tool, Economy Needle Files, 6pc
#65-910 Tool, Hammer, 6 Texture Faces (Use "stripe" side)
#69-135 Tool, Hammer, Ballpeen, 4oz [Optional]
#69-345 Tool, Hammer, Brass, 2lb [or basic utility hammer from your garage]
#69-365 Tool, Ring Clamp
#69-230 Tool, Shear, 7"
#69-282 Tool, Stainless Shot, 2lb
#69-125 Tool, Steel 4" Square Block
#69-281 Tool, Tumbler, 3lb Capacity