Tropical Leaf Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Sawing, Texturing
Skill Level: Beginner

It is amazing where jewelry design ideas come from sometimes. I follow a wonderful Australian design blogger who recently posted a photo series about an easy DIY frame. In one photo, she styled the finished piece with an unusual tropical plant, one I do not remember seeing before. I loved the shape of the leaves so off I went to the internet and found it was a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, a vining plant native to Malaysia and Southern Thailand. I could just see the leaf shapes as earrings and had to start right away.

Materials

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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18 gauge round half hard brass wire

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Sterling Silver Earwires 21mm w/ 1.5mm Bead - Pack of 2

K19-50

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.40
Gold Club Price: $1.80

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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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Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm

PLR-133.70

PLR-133.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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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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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches

G17-44

G17-44
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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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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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Round Nose Nylon Tipped Pliers--Small

PLR-827.00

PLR-827.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.97
Gold Club Price: $6.73

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Chasing Hammer - Flat Faced with Polished Wooden Handle - Pack of 1

G3-13

G3-13
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.97
Gold Club Price: $8.98

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

After making a mashup of the shapes of different sections of several different leaves, a leaf shape was drawn in the desired size.

It was then scanned and the scanned image reversed. Since you are the designer, make them in any manner and size you wish.

Even though all the leaves grow the same way, right and left facing earrings just seemed the way to go. It was personal preference to round all the leaf points. The leaves have a smooth surface so it was also personal preference to texture the leaves after adding the veining.

The loop at the top of the leaf midrib for hanging the leaf on an earring finding is not necessary and can be done away with.

Judy Larson's Tropical Leaf Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Texturing, tropical leaf earrings

Step 2

Use a sticker maker, stick glue, or rubber cement to secure the template to sheet metal.

Cut the designs out with a saw. This is a good project to practice sawing skills because no one leaf is exactly like another. Besides, the leaves will be on different sides of the face so cutting differences will not be as noticeable.

If you REALLY do not want to saw the leaves out, punch holes corresponding to the size of the inner curve between each leaf section using a 7 Holes Metal Punch Kit. Use shears to cut around the leaf shape and into the holes.

Step 3

Use files and sanding pads to refine the leaf edges

Step 4

Curve a 3" piece of brass or nickel silver to fit the curve of the central leaf midrib as shown on the template. Note: The wire used for this step should be harder than the metal it will be pressed into. 18 gauge steel wire from the hardware store is ideal.

Tape the wire in place on the leaf and the leaf to the rubber block or a bench block. Hammer the wire into the metal. The impression will be lighter using a rubber block and more pronounced using a bench block. Use a new piece of curved wire and the same process to hammer the leaf veins into each of the leaf sections.

The leaves will be beautiful if left without texture by eliminating Step 6.

Step 5

Use a 1.25mm hole punch to make the holes for hanging the leaves on earring findings.

Step 6

Use the narrower side of a Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to texture the leaves, if desired.

Step 7

Use a variety of pliers to form the leaves into a more three-dimensional shape.

Step 8

Patina the leaves. Use sanding sponges to remove the patina from the high spots to reveal the texture.

Step 9

If the satin patina from sanding and refining is not desired, tumble the earrings for 30 minutes to bring up a shine.

Step 10

Attach the leaves to earring findings.

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!