Home / Jewelry Making Patterns / Stacked Button Charms
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Do you have a stash of old buttons hanging around? I do, and wanted to do something a little different with them, that's where this project came to mind.

Stacked Button Charms

by Judy Freyer Thompson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Cutting, Dapping, Hole Punching, Making Loops, Sawing, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Do you have a stash of old buttons hanging around? I do, and wanted to do something a little different with them, that's where this project came to mind.

Grab some pre-cut copper or brass shapes; make your own using the simple templates shown, or experiment using your own design.

You can experiment with enameling some copper shapes, or adding a patina. Let your imagination go and create one of a kind charms. Wear one as a simple statement, or group a few together for a more complex piece of wearable art.

These can also be worn as fantastically mis-matched earrings!

Note: It's important that you use bronze wire for this project as it has a certain spring to it, and is instrumental in achieving and holding the bends for these charms.

Materials

18 Gauge 0.040 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x12 Inch
MET-705.18M
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $20.78
  • Gold Club Price: $15.59
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Old buttons two or four hole; make sure you have a two hole button for the top one.
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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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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6PC File Set
FIL-912.10
  • FIL-912.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $39.97
  • Gold Club Price: $29.98
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Flat Face Chasing Hammer
HAM-161.00
  • HAM-161.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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18 Gauge Round Bronze Enameled Craft Wire - 21 ft
H5-I18-21FT
  • H5-I18-21FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 15.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.80
  • Gold Club Price: $5.10
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Euro Punch Pliers--Round - Small--1.25mm
PLR-133.60
  • PLR-133.60
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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Blazer ES-1000 Angled Head Micro Torch, Black
TRCH-1002
  • TRCH-1002
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $74.95
  • Gold Club Price: $56.21
Out of Stock
Fire Brick
SOL-485.00
  • SOL-485.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.95
  • Gold Club Price: $11.96
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Small Brass Brush
BRS-966.10
  • BRS-966.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.97
  • Gold Club Price: $8.23
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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1
G17-10
  • G17-10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
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Auto Center Punch
PUN-430.00
  • PUN-430.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.97
  • Gold Club Price: $6.73
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8 Punch Dapping Set
DAP-708.00
  • DAP-708.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $48.97
  • Gold Club Price: $36.73
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Instructions
Step 1
Using the 600 grit sandpaper, clean the sheet if necessary.
Step 2
Print out the template and using a water-soluble adhesive, attach to the copper sheet and let set. Alternatively, use pre-cut shapes.
Step 3
Load the jewelers saw with a #1 saw blade, drag the blade through the beeswax to lubricate it.
Step 4
While holding the copper piece on the bench pin, begin sawing.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 5
When the piece is completely cut out, remove the template. If necessary, use soap and warm water to remove the adhesive residue and dry well.
Step 6
Using the bench pin for support, smooth the cut edges with the flat file.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 7
Lay the piece/s on the soldering brick and anneal.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 8
Once the pieces are cool, wash them to remove fire scale, then brass brush them.
Step 9
To lightly dome, lay a shape in the third largest depression of the forming block. Using the # 24 dap, tap lightly with the hammer to form a concave shape.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 10
Choose the buttons that you will be stacking on the shape, preferably buttons with two holes.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 11
Transfer the hole layout from one button on to your copper shape making a mark with a permanent marker.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 12
Lay the piece on the steel bench block and make divots at both marks.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 13
Using the punch pliers make holes at each divot.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 14
Cut a 12" piece of bronze wire. Position the round nose pliers approximately 3" from one end and make a two-turn coil.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 15
Thread the tails from front to back going through your chosen stack of buttons and the copper shape.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 16
Bend the tails in opposite directions positioning the shorter tail towards the bottom of the stack.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 17
Use the round nose pliers to make a few coils on the short tail and bend the coils toward to stack to secure.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 18
Bring the longer tail up and around, make a few coils in the wire.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 19
Thread the end of the longer piece through the first coil you made, trim if necessary.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 20
Use the round nose pliers to make a couple of turns in the wire to secure.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms
Step 21
String one or three together; or attach some ear wires for a fantastically mis-matched pair of earrings!
Judy Freyer Thompson's Stacked Button Charms - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stacked button charms

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