Happy Holly Days Wreath Ornament

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques, Twisting
Skill Level: Beginner

Wreaths are one of the most popular Holiday decorations. A grape vine wreath base can be decorated for different holidays and seasons year-round and is one of my favorites. This simple grape vine wreath is easy to make and sure to be cherished for years to come.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 7.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
Price: $54.14
Gold Club Price: $40.60

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24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $51.80
Gold Club Price: $38.85

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Tools

Jewelers Saw with Adjustable Frame without Blade

G18-3

G18-3
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.97
Gold Club Price: $9.73

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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7 Holes Metal Punch Kit- 2.38mm to 7.14mm - Pack of 1 Kit

G15-8

G15-8
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $54.95
Gold Club Price: $41.21

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Economy Nylon Jaw Pliers

G2-25

G2-25
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.97
Gold Club Price: $8.98

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WET/DRY PAPER 9 x 11, 400grit- PK/10

ABR-500.25

ABR-500.25
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.95
Gold Club Price: $9.71

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Round Hard Wood Bracelet Mandrel - 15 Inches

G7-33

G7-33
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Blazer GB4001 Stingray Torch, Black

TRCH-4001

TRCH-4001
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $49.95
Gold Club Price: $37.46

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Starter Jewelry Soldering Kit

G32-STARTER

G32-STARTER
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $79.95
Gold Club Price: $59.96

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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 Holly Leaves templates to the desired size. Print the templates on paper to glue to sheet metal, which is the method used here, or cut out a plastic template or stencil for tracing on metal with an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie marker. These leaves must be cut with a saw. If a sawing setup is not available, Holly Leaves Patterns B1, B2, B3, and B4 from the Happy Holly Days Leaves and Berries tutorial can be cut with metal shears.

Judy Larson's Happy Holly Days Wreath Ornament - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, , wire wreath ornament

Step 2

Glue the templates to sheet metal and cut the pieces out using a saw.

Step 3

Flip one of each leaf size over to make mirror images. Follow Steps 4 through 12 in HOLLY LEAVES AND BERRIES to stamp and texture the leaf sections.

Step 4

Follow Steps 14 through 17 in HOLLY LEAVES AND BERRIES to make a LARGE BALL BERRY TRIO. Make three silver balls by melting the following for each ball: 1.31 grams of silver scrap, 3¾" of 18 gauge wire, or two 18 gauge 13mm ID jump rings.

Step 5

Place a small amount of medium paste solder on the lower inner edge of the larger leaves-upper leaves in the photo. Press the smaller leaves into the solder making sure the small leaves do not cover the midrib on the larger leaves-lower leaves in the photo. Heat until the solder flows. Allow the pieces to cool before going on to the next step.

Step 6

Move the left and right leaf sections together so the lower edges of the small leaves touch and the midrib lines of the larger leaves are more or less in a straight horizontal line. Place medium paste solder on the leaf sections and the back of the triple berry section as shown. Center the triple berry right side up on the leaves and press into place. Heat the piece until the solder flows. Allow the piece to cool naturally.

Step 7

Use an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie marker to draw a line around the bracelet mandrel where the diameter is approximately 2¼".

Step 8

Approximately 6½ feet of Argentium 18 gauge round wire is used to make the wreath. It would be best, however, to work from the coil to make sure that too much or too little wire isn't cut. Starting 7 inches in from the wire coil end, make a loop on Step 4 or 5 of the 6 step barrel pliers.

Step 9

Place the loop on the line drawn on the mandrel. Wrap the wire from the coil around the mandrel eight times, four above and four below the loop.

Step 10

Remove the wire bundle from the mandrel. Cut the bundle away from the coil, leaving a 7 inch tail. Wrap the wire tails around the wire bundle, wrapping on either side of the loop towards the center bottom. If there is excess wire, it can be used in a later ornament project but don't trim it yet. If the wreath is misshapen from wrapping, push it down the bracelet mandrel to re-round it.

Step 11

Center the finished leaf and berry unit on the bottom of the wreath. There should not be a lot of wrapped wire under it. Too many wire wrapped bumps will make a solder connection a bit weaker. Adjust the number of wraps. Cut the excess wire away. Tuck the wire tails into the wire bundle at the bottom of the wreath.

Step 12

Use round nose and chain nose pliers to make bends and twists in the wrapped wire as well as the base wires on the front side of the wreath. The wire tails should end up between the wires on the front of the wreath where they will be covered with the leaf and berry bundle.

Step 13

Use a rubber/nylon and a steel hammer to flatten the wreath a bit, paying particular attention to the lower area where the holly berry bundle will be attached. Tuck the wire ends back into the wreath, if necessary.

Step 14

Use an ultra-fine point retractable Sharpie to mark the wreath back at the center bottom. Center the holly berry bundle under the mark. Mark the curve of the wreath on the back of the holly berry bundle. Mark where the holly berry bundle overlaps on the front of the wreath.

Step 15

Smear (technical term) easy paste solder between the lines on the front of the wreath. Place a line of easy paste solder centered between the lines on the back of the holly berry bundle. Why the solder on the wreath? Solder follows heat, and there are loose wire ends tucked in the wreath at the bottom. There is not enough solder on the holly berry bundle to flow up where the wire ends may be. The solder on the wreath will ensure the wire ends will be soldered in place and never come loose.

Step 16

Nestle the holly berry bundle in pumice in a pumice pan. Center the wreath front side down on the holly berry bundle and press into place. Cover the wreath loop with a bit of pumice. For every trip around the wreath with the torch, pass over the holly berry bundle and wreath another time. Heat until the solder flows. Allow the wreath to cool in the pumice pan. Check the solder connection and reheat if necessary.

Step 17

Pickle and rinse the piece. Neutralize in baking soda water and rinse again. Make sure the piece is dry before going on to the next step.

Step 18

Use soft jaw flat nose pliers to shape the leaves.

Step 19

Tumble the wreath for several hours.

Step 20

The wreath can be left bright silver, or patina can be added. Liver of sulfur was used on these wreaths. Excess patina was removed with 0000 steel wool, which leaves a satin finish on the metal. Tumble again for 20 to 30 minutes to bring back a subtle shine

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!