Small Flower Bud Embellishment

by Judy Larson

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Dapping, Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Beginner

Here's another small metal embellishment you can make, often with pieces of scrap metal. Make some in advance and they can be used on various pieces you make as a little something extra.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $42.72
Gold Club Price: $32.04

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20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $3.68
Gold Club Price: $2.76

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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Hard SS75 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.20

SOL-822.20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

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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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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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24 Piece Dapping Punch Set

DAP-705.00

DAP-705.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $85.97
Gold Club Price: $64.48

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Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, Black

TRCH-8010

TRCH-8010
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $40.00
Gold Club Price: $30.00

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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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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 flower bud shape measures approximately 3/8" to 7/16" across two petals. Print the template on typing paper. Cut the number needed leaving an edge around the design. Also cut a 3/16" disc from 24 or 26 gauge sheet metal.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flower bud template

Step 2

Use stick glue to attach the template to 24 gauge sheet metal. The flower buds are so tiny that a saw is the best way to cut them out. It is not necessary to be really accurate when 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 saw too far into the center of the bud where a hole will be drilled.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, glue the drawing to metal sheet

Step 3

Remove the paper templates from the all the metal. 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

Dome disk until the cut edge is a hair less than 3/16" in diameter.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, dome the disk

Step 5

Determine the size wire to be used for the flower stem. I prefer to use 20 gauge wire for flower stems but will go down to 22 gauge. The gauge wire you use is determined by the size hole the drill bits or ball burs you have will make. Drill a very small hole in a piece of scrap sheet metal t check the size wire that fits the hole.

Place the dapped disk well side up on a bench block. Use an awl or a center punch to make a divot in the center of the dapped disk and the bud. Don't use scrap wood to do this as the disk will become distorted. Note: Why did I not cut the hole in the disk before dapping? Because I am terrible and winging it to find the center and this is much easier for me-lol. Repeat the process for the bud center. Drill the holes.

Pro Tip: Running the bit in a lubricating substance such as Cut Lube before use will help prolong the life of metal bits. Do not rush the process. If the bur is pressed down on too hard, it will have a tendency to slide across the metal.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, determine your wire size

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, drill a hole

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, use cut lube

Step 6

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

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, texture the metal flower

Step 7

Texturing the flower bud work hardens the metal so it must be annealed before shaping the petals. Place the piece on a soldering block and heat until it turns pink. Allow it to cool before continuing.

Step 8

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. When all three petals are shaped, center the bud bottom over the well and dap the center to bring the petals together.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, dap the flower

Step 9

Ball the end of a 2" to 3" long piece of wire the size determined in step 5.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, ball the end of the wire

Step 10

Slide the balled wire through the hole in the bud to make it easier to handle. Make a slight twist in each petal so they will nestle around each other. Use soft jaw pliers to shape the petals into a bud shape.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, twist the petals to close up the bud

Step 11

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 at 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.

Slide the balled wire out of the bud. Place a bit of paste solder around the wire at the base of the ball. Pull the wire tightly into the bud. Place a bit of paste solder around the wire and bud bottom. Slide the domed disk on the wire. Add a bit of paste solder around the wire and disk. Slide the 2.5mm bead into place. Use a toothpick to remove excess paste solder around the bead.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, slide the wire through the bud

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, use hard solder to connect the bud to the wire

Step 12

Use a third hand to hold the flower bud assembly upside down over a soldering block. Be careful when heating to only heat the flower and stay clear of the wire and bead. Heat until the solder flows. Immediately remove the heat. If the assembly is heated too long, the wire will melt and the weight of the flower bud will separate it from the wire. Allow the flower to cool before moving it.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, use a third hand

Step 13

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

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, pickle and rinse

Step 14

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

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, refine with sanding pads

Step 15

The flower bud is ready to use.

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flower bud on pendant

Judy Larson's Small Flower Bud Embellishment - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, flower buds on bracelet

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!