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Using Templates in Jewelry Making

by Susan LeGuyader
How do you get metal shapes out of your head, onto the metal and into usable components? There are lots of ways: freestyle hand drawing; stickers, just saw away? Personally, I cannot draw. Which can be very frustrating.
Instructions
What has been my lifesaver has been templates. These templates are available in so many shapes. Templates for bails, for basic shapes, for fancy shapes or to make cabochons. For use in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, solderable bits and bobs for design options. You can even use them for etching projects. There are really no limits, other than your own creativity.
Susan LeGuyader's Using Templates in Jewelry Making - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Design, Tools, using templates
You can find them many places. I have purchased them on jewelry supplies websites, Etsy, Amazon, craft stores and even the office supply store. There are templates used to make bullet journals
Susan LeGuyader's Using Templates in Jewelry Making - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Design, Tools, using templates
These templates give you the ability to create duplicate shapes, consistently and easily. With a template and a fine tip Sharpie or any writing utensil will work. From there you can use metal shears or a jewelers saw to cut them out.
Susan LeGuyader's Using Templates in Jewelry Making - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Design, Tools, using templates
Another option is to freestyle draw the shapes, cut them out and then draw around them. If you use cardstock, then you will have the shapes for quite a while
One other option that I am exploring is using clip art and having a friend cut them out in heavy cardstock with a Cricut machine. I'll let you know how that works out when I have gotten that done.
Susan LeGuyader's Using Templates in Jewelry Making - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Design, Tools, using templates

Materials

22 Gauge Dead Soft Sterling Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H8-22SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $49.49
  • Gold Club Price: $37.12
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24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x12 Inch
MET-705.24M
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.34
  • Gold Club Price: $8.51
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Tools

Xuron Sheer - Non Serrated
SHR-691.81
  • SHR-691.81
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
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French Shears - Curved Shear with Spring
SHR-531.01
  • SHR-531.01
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.97
  • Gold Club Price: $22.48
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  • Category: Tools
  • Technique(s): Design, Tools

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