Twelve Drummers Drumming Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Some steel tongue drums have such beautiful decorative designs on them that you almost don't want to mar the surface by playing music on them.

Materials

18 Gauge Square Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18SQH

Lesson Quantity: 2.50 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $7.29
Gold Club Price: $5.47

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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: $42.72
Gold Club Price: $32.04

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Tools

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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Solderite Soldering Board, Hard, 6 Inch by 6 Inch

SOL-420.10

SOL-420.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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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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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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PROFESSIONAL QUALITY RING MANDREL 1-16

MAN-295.00

MAN-295.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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Brass Hammer - 1 Pound

HAM-456.10

HAM-456.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.97
Gold Club Price: $18.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Template Designs

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6", contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials.

Cut two 2¼" pieces (appx. 63.5mm) of 18 gauge square Argentium wire. File both ends flat so a flush seam can be made.

Judy Larson's Twelve Drummers Drumming Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, twelve drummers drumming earrings

Step 2

Shape each ring into an oval or a "D" shape, with the filed ends flush against each other. Place on a soldering block with a dot of medium paste solder under the seam. Heat around the rings with a butane torch until the solder flows up through and to the outside of the seam. Cool the rings on the solder brick.

Step 3

Use a rubber/nylon or rawhide mallet to round each ring on a hoop mandrel.

Step 4

Center a ring on a large bench block. Center another bench block on top of the ring. Strike a blow once or twice in the center of the top bench block with a brass mallet. This should flatten the ring and "square up" the square wire.

Step 5

Because any texturing will distort the metal design, it is best to texture the 24 gauge Argentium sheet metal before cutting out the design. Any texture will work, simple or fancy, so long as you like it. If not using a rolling mill, place annealed metal on top of a coin and hammer. The coin design will be imprinted backwards on the annealed metal. Note: All textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before continuing.

Step 6

Place medium paste solder on the back of the wire shapes. Press them into place on the backings. Add a dot of medium paste solder to the textured backings outside the wire shapes, as well as on the outer edge of the wire rings where each hanging jump ring will be placed. Push a 22 gauge 2mm ID jump ring into the paste solder, making sure it touches both the backing and the wire shape, on each assembly.

Step 7

Heat the assemblies with a butane torch until the solder flows.

Step 8

Trim away excess backing around the drum edges and jump rings. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the drums. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole inside the small jump ring.

Step 9

Pickle, rinse, and dry the drums. Tumble the pieces for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The "drums" shown have patina added.
Add ear wires.

Step 10

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!