Stamp your own metal cuff
Drop in any day we’re open. No class to be on time for.
Pick a cuff blank in aluminum, brass or copper, hammer your own letters and symbols into it, then shape and polish it and wear it out. A short walk-through when you arrive is the whole lesson — after that you work at your own pace, at 311 Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville.
How it goes
People expect the hammering to be the hard part. It isn’t — it’s one firm strike per stamp. The part worth slowing down for is deciding what it says.
Pick your blank
Aluminum takes a crisp, bright stamp. Brass goes warm and golden. Copper darkens in the stamped lines, so a pattern reads strongly on it.
Plan the words
Lay the stamps out before you hit anything. A name, a date, coordinates, a line you like. Letters are struck one at a time, so spacing is the thing worth thinking about.
Strike it
One firm hammer blow per stamp, against the bench block. A quick demo when you arrive is genuinely all it takes — this is the part people expect to be hard and it is not.
Shape and finish
Darken the stamped lines so they stand out, round the cuff to your wrist, and polish it. You wear it out.
What’s on the table
Everything is set out and ready. Bring nothing.
- Your choice of aluminum, brass or copper cuff blank
- Letter, number and symbol stamps
- Hammers and a steel bench block
- Finishing tools to round and polish the cuff
- A quick walk-through when you arrive
Common questions
- Do I need to book the metal cuff workshop?
- No. It is a drop-in — come any day we are open, Tuesday to Sunday, and start whenever you arrive. There is no scheduled class to be on time for. You can reserve a spot online if you would rather be certain, especially for a group.
- How much does it cost?
- It is $25, and that covers the cuff blank, the use of all the stamps and tools, and the walk-through. One cuff per ticket.
- How long does it take?
- Most people take somewhere between forty minutes and a couple of hours. It is self-paced, so a short design goes quickly and a densely stamped one takes as long as you want to give it.
- Do I need any experience?
- None. All skill levels are welcome and the technique is one firm hammer blow per stamp. The walk-through when you arrive covers everything you need.
- What metal can I choose?
- Aluminum, brass or copper. Aluminum gives the brightest, crispest stamp; brass is warmer; copper darkens in the stamped lines so patterns show up strongly.
- Can I do it with a group or a child?
- Yes. It works well for a group because everybody works at their own pace rather than following a class, and it is a common birthday or date-night choice. Children can stamp with a hand on the hammer.
- Can I get a drink while I make it?
- Muse & Co is a tea house as well as a studio, so yes — boba, brewed tea, fruit tea or coffee from the same counter while you work.
While you’re here
Muse & Co is a tea house as well as a studio, so there’s boba, brewed tea and coffee from the same counter. If you’d rather paint than stamp, Sit & Paint runs on the same drop-in basis, and Sunday Sketch Club and Wednesday origami are free.