Chatter

Wild Mustard on “Make a Wire Wrapped Bead Link”:
“I was trained to use a pair of chain nose pliers to manipulate the wire being…” read »
Balthazar on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:
“I agree -- E6000 is the absolute best!…” read »
Susanannellis on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:
“I don't use epoxy on any of the jewelry I make, plus depending on the temperature…” read »
donnaruiz60 on “Using Vintaj Patinas”:
“I just taught a class with middle school children and one painted on a silver piece…” read »
Scavenger on “Adding a Focal to Patricia Healey Chain”:
“Absolutely Gorgeous! I can't wait to use this!…” read »
Nini H on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“I need 1 egg for 50…” read »
angmoore2011 on “Making a Fish Tail Braid”:
“This is great! My mom didn't know what to do with my thick curly hair so…” read »
Krp309 on “Using the Sliding Square Knot”:
“How much cord do you use for the knot?…” read »
S Brewer on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“I want to string the wool beads together with elastic thread in a needle. Which…” read »
Kat R on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“Love the instructions, but which stretch cord are you using? I don't see one like it…” read »
S Wahl on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“No photo, sorry. I'm really in a bracelet "phase". I tried figuring this out on my…” read »
BevB on “Using Colourful Soul Jewelry Pop-Outs & Ultimate Paints”:
“Vintaj came out with this line in July. I am glad to see LB is selling…” read »
Petunia on “Using Colourful Soul Jewelry Pop-Outs & Ultimate Paints”:
“*Squeaks with excitement* …” read »
J Jackowitz on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“You carry the most beautiful beads, bar none. I tie a surgeon’s knot for more security,…” read »
T M on “Using Vintaj Patinas”:
“Has anyone tried to use the patinas on coins?…” read »
Jona M on “Using The Magic Finding”:
“Where can we buy the magic finding. It is not in your product list.…” read »
Delia C on “Quick and Easy Ornament Hangers”:
“These are so pretty. I've been looking for a "template" for ear wires/cuffs. I think these…” read »
Powells70 on “Hammering Texture on a Blank”:
“Do you sell textured hammers and blocks I can't find?…” read »
Eglis T on “Using a Hand Punch”:
“Can I use it to open holes in Saint medals???…” read »
Stingray on “Using a Leather Cord Crimp End”:
“A good starting point for necklaces would be 2mm(ideal for .5"-1.5" pendants). For larger pendants(1.5"+) 3,…” read »
Stingray on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“To cover a sz 2 crimp tube, 4mm would be ideal. 3mm would fit, but it…” read »
LisaK on “Using a Leather Cord Crimp End”:
“Hi, I am new to working with leather and end caps or any other finishing findings,…” read »
T Hudson on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“What size of a crimp cover would you use, for a size 2 crimp tube?…” read »
Tater on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“Excellent tutorial and superb photos. Cute bracelet!…” read »
Pearl M on “Coloring Metal with Alcohol Inks”:
“I just started working with alcohol inks. Most people who use the medium use Krylon Kamar…” read »
mmmagique on “Crystal Clay”:
“Tried to be good…” read »
T Lehr on “Non-Identical Twins”:
“I have always loved this idea! It really resonates with me. Interesting to see…” read »
A Novo on “String a Guru Bead on a Mala Necklace”:
“I, too, need to know how to attach a tassel to the guru bead.…” read »
terryhardee on “Wire Wrap a Bail on a Teardrop”:
“thank you. I've always wanted to try this…” read »
TLC on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“I made one bracelet for my granddaughter and one for myself. They are easy and…” read »
K McPhail on “How to make a paper bead”:
“Interesting that paper beads are "in" again... Nearly 50 years ago, crafters (including my grandma) were…” read »
Stingray on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:
“Because of the constant abuse they usually get, glue is not an ideal hold for jump…” read »
Stingray on “Wrap Loom Basics”:
“Moogie is right, if you need an answer from Lima you'll need to use the customer…” read »
Joy T on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“I’ve read in other tutorials to cut the elastic cord length needed and lightly pull each…” read »
K Manley on “Using the Square Knot”:
“Perfect illustration and instruction for a knot-challenged brain …” read »
dolllady aka Pam on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“These look like fun to make bracelets, and even more fun to wear.…” read »
angmoore2011 on “Using Lillypilly Metal Sheets & Discs”:
“I completely fell in love with the color of these little LillyPilly sheets and ordered my…” read »
E moccaldi on “The Simple Wire Bracelet”:
“Nice tutorial. For me, I would need more visual. The camera needs to be closer…” read »
Dusty Rose on “How to set a Nunn Design Glass Dome”:
“Beautiful design!…” read »
R Duhon on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“Tip:If I have miss judged my project, I have found I can use a crimp cover…” read »

Using Lillypilly Metal Sheets & Discs

Lillypilly’s metal sheets and discs are a playful addition to your metal working collection. It is an incredibly durable, lightweight metal due to the electrochemical anodized finish. Here are some ideas to get started with your designs.

Cutting

You can use metal shears on all of the Lillypilly sheet metal from 36 gauge all the way to the thickest, 22 gauge. Cut out random shapes or standard shapes like: circles, rectangles, squares and triangles. Using the shears will give you a more organic look than what the hole punches will offer. I actually like this way the best.

Punching Shapes

The McGill paper punches work wonders with the 36 gauge sheet. It is as thin as paper and only requires a touch more “oomph” to punch through. I had great results. If you’re looking for perfectly calibrated shapes, this is definitely the way to go.

Stamping

I recommend using a firm surface when stamping designs into the metal. My rubber block was too soft and didn’t allow me to get the letter definition that I wanted. I ended up using my metal block and was really happy with the result. You can use any of our metal stamps including the letter stamps if you want to form words like the pictured design. If you’re new to stamping, check out this tutorial on stamping metal blanks.

Creating Components

The greatest thing about these pre-made discs or sheets is that you can use them however you like by putting holes exactly where you want them. I created a simple connector and an earring disc using just the handheld hole punch… so easy!

Adding Color

You can add color to your anodized aluminum pieces with ink pens and colored pencils! Color the areas that are silver to create unique designs. Sharpies and other permanent markers produce darker, more vibrant colors. Non-permanent ink pens and markers create softer, subtler coloring. You can use a polishing pad to remove ink from unwanted areas. When using non-permanent inks, wipe off colored areas with a damp cloth or sponge to remove ink that hasn’t penetrated into the aluminum.

Resin

Using these fabulous Lillypilly pieces as the backdrop for your resin pieces adds vibrance and depth. The colors really pop out under the resin. To use in resin, we recommend using the 36 gauge metal since it acts like paper in many ways. However, if you don’t have that on hand, any thickness can be used.

Cut out your desired shape using a paper punch (36 gauge only) or shears (any gauge metal). Once your shape is cut, secure it to the back of your bezel using an adhesive such as our Lima Studios 5 minute crystal clear epoxy or E6000. Don’t use tape on the patinated pieces–it will pull color off when you remove it. Make sure the sheet is pressed down firmly until the adhesive dries and then you’ll be ready to pour your resin.

Things to Avoid…

Here are a few things to avoid when using Lillypilly metal sheets and discs.

We wouldn’t recommend texturing hammers on the patinated embossed sheets or the patterned anodized aluminum
Stamping on a soft rubber block doesn’t give a great impression in the metal
Don’t try to use paper punches on sheets heavier than 36 gauge. You may break your punch.

Read the comments (or add your own)

On Jan 12, 2012 at 10:50 pm #
rrobis1120 says:

Do you have to do anything to the edges of the metal pieces that are cut out? I would think the edges are sharp.
On Jan 14, 2012 at 10:19 pm #
Harmony on Strings says:

I use an emory board to smooth them off a bit but would like a better way
On Jan 19, 2012 at 9:28 am #
Beadlady3 aka Cindy says:

I use a 4-way nail buffer to smooth the edges! It is finer than an emory board and you can also get some nice shine.
On Mar 28, 2012 at 2:17 pm #
C Flanery says:

When I cut the shapes with my metal shears some of the patina flakes off,especially on the edges. Do I need to seal it first? If so, which sealer do you recommend?
On Apr 04, 2012 at 5:58 pm #
Kris says:

Oh…the possibilities!
On May 11, 2012 at 4:21 am #
grayscrafts says:

How about cutting them out using a jeweler’s saw and then finish the edges off using flat file and polishing papers?
As I understand, you can’t solder on LiliPillies. Do you need to seal them before using resin, or there is no color bleed?
On Jul 26, 2012 at 9:57 pm #
Margot R says:

is it possible to run these sheets through a rolling mill? I’d like to transfer some designs on to silver sheet.
On Jul 27, 2012 at 10:30 am #
P Way says:

Do you make larger sheets; specifically 4 x 4, or 4 x 6, or 6 x 6? I am interested in wrapping a wood frame on a mirror.
On Aug 16, 2012 at 3:10 pm #
L Marcario says:

I was wondering about the rolling mill as well and would purchase some if they can be used that way. Thanks Laura
On Aug 23, 2012 at 11:17 am #
Kate says:

Thinking about using a rolling mill? The sheets are very thin– the impressions are probably not going to be deep enough to even show up if you run these through the roller.

Regarding sealing your pieces– the embellishments are raw and have not been sealed so if you’re experiencing loss, I do recommend sealing it with any of the sealers from our website or as LillyPilly recommends paste wax (which you can pick up at your local hardware store).
On Mar 15, 2013 at 5:15 pm #
S Golden says:

I would like larger sheets, 6×6 would be nice.
On Mar 21, 2013 at 12:44 pm #
N Kimmons says:

I would like larger sheets as well
On Mar 30, 2013 at 4:40 am #
M gates says:

how about larger sheets?
On Apr 24, 2013 at 12:45 pm #
Kevin says:

Just checked into the larger sheets. It doesn’t appear that we’ll be able to get 6×6, but we are considering 3×6. This would allow them to be wrapped for cuffs, etc. Stay tuned!
On May 27, 2013 at 11:28 am #
Sassy Bohemian says:

I keep looking at these but I just can’t decide what I would do with them. I’m new at using different mediums but do have a bohemian style. Thoughts from anyone?
On Jul 28, 2013 at 7:41 pm #
Czech Chick says:

I will appreciate the larger sheets! Great news.
Also, I have hard time locating your 3×3″ sheets in plain basic colors – black, silver, copper. Am I looking at the wrong place? Are they on back order?
On Aug 05, 2013 at 2:38 pm #
Kate says:

@CzechChick – all our sheet squares can be found here: http://www.limabeads.com/Sheet-Metal-Squares-C5599
On Aug 25, 2013 at 3:20 am #
J Batt says:

On the lillypilly pre cut discs, are the edges anodized, also?
On Jan 26, 2014 at 10:55 am #
shunter3 says:

If you go to your local home depot you can find small files fairly cheap .They work great for sanding those rough edges and they have different shapes for whatever your needs are
On Feb 19, 2014 at 1:49 am #
mallen476 says:

You can buy larger sections of the exact copper sheets/finishes from http://www.colorcopper.com/col.....-36-gauge/
Looks like Lillypilly gets them there and just cuts the sheets into 3×3 squares to re-sell. They are identical.
On Sep 23, 2014 at 9:11 am #
srobinson123 says:

How would one emboss pattern onto these? I know some of these already have texture but I’m wondering if you want to add your own texture to a non-textured Lillypilly sheet how would you do that? I saw the comment above about not recommending them for a rolling mill…does that refer to the BigKick machine? I’ve never used these before but would like to try something like this into my jewelry designs and am wondering what else I’d need to purchase to emboss them. Thanks!
On Apr 14, 2015 at 4:40 pm #
Jan D says:

This conversation has been so interesting, I was curious about the longer strips of the copper as well. So thanks for letting me know. I really learned a lot about sealing and punching and cutting this metal… so thanks so much!
On May 12, 2015 at 5:36 pm #
aunthatties says:

Has anyone tried a line of clear nail polish on the area where the metal might flake off during cutting? It’s not as thick as sealer and after everything is dry and cut,you can simply buff it off with wax. Then, continue on to seal it with you choice of materials.
Linda Hall
On May 26, 2015 at 9:07 pm #
M walker says:

is it possible to cut a band to surround a stone or to frame around a smooth gemstone with the thinnest
sheet metal?
On Aug 03, 2015 at 3:06 am #
Vivian says:

I think that rolling the edges and then gold plating that edge or adding a coordinating shade works well.
On Aug 21, 2015 at 11:01 am #
Jeanne S says:

Putting them in bezels and then filling it with resin really makes the design pop.
On Oct 06, 2015 at 8:22 pm #
D Douglas says:

The 3″x6″ would be really great for a bangle. When do you think you might get some of them in? Maybe you all can send us all emails when they arrive.
On Oct 06, 2015 at 8:26 pm #
D Douglas says:

Vivian-I’m hugely impressed by the design you have on here. Like you I’ve thought about rolling the edges but I haven’t thought of a good way to do that. Would you please post on here how you did it?
On Feb 11, 2016 at 4:11 pm #
Kata J says:

Is it really possible to stamp on Lillypilly discs? I mean don’t the letters leave marks on the other side of the metal? Thanks
On Jun 13, 2016 at 4:01 am #
M Hemann says:

I love your comment section. I have learned so much.
On Nov 05, 2016 at 11:12 am #
Moogie says:

I used my Bigkick on a 3 X 6 36 gauge Lillypilly flat patinated sheet & it worked great using the Decoemboss die.
On Oct 21, 2017 at 4:17 pm #
Tonihstone says:

I order so much from you folks. It is my favorite go to store. I love your beads!
On Apr 08, 2018 at 12:57 pm #
Boni J says:

Love, love Lima Beads! Huge selection, such original designs!
On Feb 22, 2020 at 2:34 am #
BEAD WABBIT says:

Can these sheets be die cut on a Big Kick/Big Shot machine using normal dies or something like Sizzix BigZ dies? The BigZ dies are steel and seems like they should work, but not sure about the regular dies. Thanks.
On Dec 12, 2020 at 9:52 pm #
angmoore2011 says:

I completely fell in love with the color of these little LillyPilly sheets and ordered my favorite just to check it out, hoping to use it on a pair of earrings. I’m concerned that the 36 gauge is not strong enough to hold up as a link if I were to punch a hole in it and place a jump ring? I feel like the jump ring might rip right off. Has anyone tried this? Before I go punching a hole, I just wanted to check.

They sure are beautiful! I want to use them properly! Thanks!