I was recently asked if I could produce a custom designed keepsake fingerprint charm.    The customer wanted something in the shape of an owl that could have her mum’s fingerprint as the owls tummy detail, and so the owl fingerprint pendant design process began.

The Owl fingerprint Charm Design Process

Before starting work on the charm, I asked the customer to send me some pictures of owls that she liked, here are a few of the ideas she sent me to work with.

The Owl fingerprint Charm Making Process

I began work on the piece straight away and came up with a couple of prototype designs made out of silver clay.  The customer liked the designs an added her own suggestions for a few more details.

My customer suggested the addition of feet and so more detail in the wings…

 so I got to work making tiny owl toes and carving feather detail into the wings.

This is the completed deign, it still doesn’t look like much yet, the magic doesn’t really happen until the clay is fired.  During this process the clay binder burns away leaving behind a pure silver piece of jewellery.

He spent about 2 hours in the kiln and came out solid silver. With a good polish and the addition of some patina to bring out the detail here is the finished piece.  A beautiful owl keepsake.

If You have an idea for a custom piece of jewellery please get in touch, at gemma@lastingtouch.co.uk

It can feature your loved ones fingerprint or hand and footprints if you would like it to.

More custom fingerprint design ideas.

Introducing the new keepsake handprint beads!

These handprint beads fit the popular Pandora and similar style charm bracelets.   I make them from solid silver and can feature your loved ones actual hand print, footprint or fingerprint.

I can make these beads in 4 different shapes, (circle, heart, star or square).  They can have a print on both sides or you can choose to have a print on one side or a name on the other.

When you order, I will be send you a free kit so that you can take your prints.  Hand and footprints are taken by inkless wipe and fingerprints are taken with a moulding compound.  I can also work with fingerprints on paper or hand and footprints that you supply yourself.

If you don’t have a bracelet, I can supply a beautiful soft nappa leather bracelet in green, pink or black.

Simply click on any of the images for more information.

I was recently asked by a lady if I could make her a piece of memorial jewellery with her mum’s fingerprint.  Her mum had recently passed away and she wanted something that she could wear and feel close to her mum all the time.

Traditional fingerprint jewellery usually has the fingerprint on the front of the charm or pendant.  The back is often left plain or a message is engraved on it.
Memorial fingerprint jewellery can be done the same way and many people do like to display the fingerprint facing forwards on their necklaces, but this particular lady wanted something with the fingerprint on the back.  There were two reasons for this, one was to keep the fingerprint discrete and personal to her, and the other was the very special way she wanted to hold the memorial necklace to feel close to her mum.

“My Mum died 7wks ago and I’m 29. I won’t have her there if I get married or have children… Even if I’m having a tough day! I chose to have it on the back because of the way I hold my pendants when I’m anxious; I put my thumb on the back and wrap my fingers round the front so my thumb will be on the top of her print. It’s as close as I can get to her now. It’s also like it’s just for me; it’s not obvious that the print is there but I will know.” Helen Knight

Helen and I discussed in detail what would go on the front of the pendant, she had seen a piece of silver jewellery that I had made of out a real leaf and really liked the idea of a natural leaf print on the front, her mum is buried in woodlands and her body will provide nutrients for a tree so it was a perfect choice.

When the prints arrived I took them out with me in search of the perfect shape and size leaf to fit the print, in the end I settled on a hydrangea leaf as it had beautiful detail and was just the right shape.
I showed Helen and she was delighted.

Next came the tricky part, turning the leaf to silver and getting the print on the back. I had to use a different technique to how I had made previous silver leaf pendants, but it worked and this is the finished piece of hidden fingerprint jewellery.

“The leaf is because she was buried in a woodland and she will feed a tree.
Gemma was so good, I got the finger printing kit the following day. Even though I couldn’t face sending off the mould for a while, she was kind enough to let me know she had received it so I didn’t worry. Gemma has been fabulous at such a difficult time for me. I had seen another leaf she had done and felt it was the right design to go for. I can’t wait to see it.” Helen Knight

If you would like more information about how to purchase a piece like this please visit this link.
Silver leaf pendant with hidden fingerprint

Check out what people had to say when I showed this pendant on the Lasting Touch Facebook Page