Combining Tutorials

by Judy Larson

These cute snowflake earrings were made using a combination of the leftover Argentium 24-gauge scrap sheet from one of the Snowflake Christmas Ornaments from 2022 and the Negative Space tropical leaf earring tutorial. They are a good reason to never throw away scrap, and to always be thinking ahead - which I almost never do - lol!

Instructions

With three Grandchildren to make ornaments for, I needed nine snowflakes for the design. Unfortunately, I did not plan ahead when cutting out the first three snowflakes so did not leave the outside of the shape in one piece. But, as luck would have it, I finally came to my senses and made sure the last six were usable.

The snowflake ornament template for these earrings measures 1.5" from tip to tip. After cutting the 24-gauge outlines apart, the snowflake outlines and a 2.5mm ID 22-gauge jump ring were each soldered to a 26-gauge textured background using easy paste solder.

Judy Larson's Combining Tutorials - , General Education, , combining tutorials

A 1/16" to 3/32" border was left after sawing away excess metal, just as with the Negative Space Earrings. Filing and refining the edge and a quick tumble were all that was needed. Since these earrings were for a friend, I checked with her before adding patina. Yes, they were a very pretty bright silver after tumbling, but most of the snowflake shape was not very visible, so patina won. It is interesting how something flat in nature, like all snowflakes, can sometimes benefit from a bit of dimension when made of metal. They were fine flat, but just a bit of doming and the snowflake shape shows up better from all angles.

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

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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Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.10

SOL-822.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.95
Gold Club Price: $12.71

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $58.95
Gold Club Price: $44.21

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): General Education

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!

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