Small Flower Embellishment

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Make several of these small ½" diameter flowers at a time because they can be worked into so many designs.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $48.95
Gold Club Price: $36.71

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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Basic Sawing Kit

G15-7

G15-7
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $34.95
Gold Club Price: $26.21

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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2

G17-9

G17-9
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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11 Piece Wood Dapping Set

DAP-160.00

DAP-160.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $64.97
Gold Club Price: $48.73

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Blazer GT 8000 Big Shot Torch

TRCH-8000

TRCH-8000
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $89.95
Gold Club Price: $67.46

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions for the space you are working in as well as all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies you will be using to complete the project.

Scale the template so the flowers are approximately ½" in diameter. Each flower requires two templates. You may wish to experiment with adding a third layer of petals to make a fuller flower. Print the templates on typing paper. Cut the number needed leaving an edge around the design.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flower template

Step 2

A glue stick was used to attach the templates to 24 gauge sheet metal. The flowers are so tiny that a saw is the best way to cut them out. One flower should be cut outside the line. The other flower should be cut inside the line. It is not necessary to be really accurate in the cutting. Texturing will slightly distort the petals anyway, so this project is perfect for someone just beginning the foray into sawing. Just make sure to not cut a petal off. If that happens, turn that piece into a flower bud.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, cut out the flower

Step 3

Remove the paper templates from the all the metal. The metal pieces with glued templates can be soaked in warm water for a minute and the paper will slide right off. The remaining glue on the metal flower shapes should then be rinsed away.

Step 4

Place the metal flowers on a bench block. Use a Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to make texture lines on the petals radiating out from the center of each flower.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, make texture lines

Step 5

Texturing the flowers work hardens the flower shapes. They must be annealed before shaping the petals. Place the pieces on a soldering block and heat until they turn pink. Allow the shapes to cool before continuing.

Step 6

Small depressions can be added to wood dapping blocks to help shape the flower petals. Place the center of a petal, texture side down, over a depression. Center a small dapping punch on the petal. One, possibly two hammer strikes on the punch is all it takes to shape each petal.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, dap the flowers

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, dapped flowers

Step 7

Place the flowers right side up on a bench block. Determine which pin punch fits the center of the flowers the best. Use the flat section of the pin punch to push the center portion of each flower flat against a bench block. While holding the pin punch in place on the smaller upper flower section, pull the flower petals upward.

Pro Tip: Most hardware stores sell them, but a bit of research on the internet will lead you to 8-Inch Long Carbon Steel Pin Punch Sets, usually in sets of five ranging from 1/8" to 3/8" end diameters. Make sure the ends are FLAT, not rounded. I use the three smallest pin punches in my set often and would not be without them.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flatten the middle of the flower

Step 8

Set the smaller flower on the larger flower, offsetting the petals. Use the pin punch to push the two pieces together. It may be necessary to bend the petals of the top flower up a bit more so they will not attach to the lower petals during soldering.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stack the flowers

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flatten the middle flowers together

Step 9

Decide on a flower center. I keep a divided box of ball embellishments on hand. It helps to be able to audition different sizes of balls in a project to decide which works best. Several smaller balls work nicely, too. Another alternative flower center could be a domed ¼" 24 gauge disk.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, balled silver

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, add a ball of silver

Step 10

Because this is an embellishment, it may be stored for later use. It is best to use the hardest solder possible to connect the pieces because who knows what step in a future project it will be attached. Remember, always start with the hardest solder possible and work down to medium, then easy, when soldering things together in different steps.

If the flower was made using sterling silver, hard paste solder should be used in this step. Since Argentium has a lower melting point than sterling silver and Argentium sheet was used here, medium paste solder was used.

Place a small amount of paste solder in the center of the bottom flower and place it on a soldering block-left side in the photo. Since a ball was used as a flower center here, a small amount of paste solder was placed in the center of the top flower, too, after it was pressed into the paste solder of the lower flower, making sure the petals were offset-center in the photo. Press the ball flat side down into the paste solder-right side in the photo.

If a domed disk is used as a flower center place paste solder around the bottom edge of the dome before pressing it into the center of the upper flower.

Heat each unit separately until the solder flows. Allow the flower to cool before moving it.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder the pieces together

Step 11

This flower should have several flat areas on the back because it is usually soldered to a flat surface. Run the back of the flower across a piece of 320 grit sandpaper on a bench block.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, the back must be flat so it can be soldered to something else

Step 12

Pickle the piece and then immerse in baking soda water to neutralize the acid in the pickle. Rinse again.

Step 13

Refine the flower petals a bit with a fine sanding pad, if desired. Tumble the flower for several hours.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tumble and polish

Step 14

The flower is ready to use.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Embellishment - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, using the flower embellishment

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!