Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings, Metalwork. Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. .
Calla Lily Earrings
by Judy Larson
  • Category: Metalwork
  • Technique(s): Dapping, Filing / Finishing, Oxidizing / Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
I made these earrings to honor my Grandmother Lilly
Special Instructions: Read through all the directions before beginning the project. Only one earring is shown being made. Make both at the same time so both will be the same when completed.

Materials

26 Gauge 0.016 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch
MET-705.26
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.78
  • Gold Club Price: $5.09
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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-20D
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.49
  • Gold Club Price: $0.37
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Ear Wires Copper
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
1 inch copper head pins
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
2mm Round Metal Beads Copper
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

French Shears - Straight Shear with Spring
SHR-530.01
  • SHR-530.01
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $25.97
  • Gold Club Price: $19.48
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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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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6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle
G14-7
  • G14-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.57
  • Gold Club Price: $4.18
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Steel wool
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Liver of Sulphur Gel, 2 Ounce Bottle
SOL-610.02
  • SOL-610.02
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
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Jewlery Polishing Kit
G24-3-KIT
  • G24-3-KIT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $129.82
  • Gold Club Price: $97.37
Out of Stock
6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1
G2-503
  • G2-503
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.95
  • Gold Club Price: $14.21
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Deluxe Soldering Kit
G15-5
  • G15-5
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $116.97
  • Gold Club Price: $87.73
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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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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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks
DAP-500.30
  • DAP-500.30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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2 Ounce Rubber Head Hammer
G3-19
  • G3-19
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Deluxe Bead Reamer Set
DIB-275.00
  • DIB-275.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.57
  • Gold Club Price: $11.68
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Instructions
Step 1
Make a the leaf/petal pattern on paper using the photo as a guide. The heavy lines denote a 1" grid and the dots 1/3 Inch. Cut the pattern out.
Pro Tip: Hint: Make the pattern larger for a pendant, or smaller for more petite earrings.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Copper sheet leaf
Step 2
Using an ultra fine point sharpie marker, trace the pattern twice onto the 26 gague metal sheet-one for each earring. Use french shears to cut out each shape.
Step 3
Using an ultra fine point Sharpie marker, draw hammering guidelines on each piece. If you are more experienced with texturing metal and welding hammers, you will find that you do not need all the guidelines. However, the center line is helpful, so you may wish to draw just that line on your piece. .
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Preparing to texture with texturing or welding hammers
Step 4
Choose a rounded sharp edge hammer to texture your blank. The Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer is a great choice. In this tutorial, I used an antique jewelers hammer I inherited from my father-in-law as well as the Mini True Strike hammer.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Using Mini True Strike hammer to texture.
Step 5
First hammer a line down the center and then texture the edges, following your guidelines.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Using a texturing hammer.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Textured with hammer
Step 6
Finish texturing from the center line outwards, following the guidelines. You may want to file the point at this time if it is too sharp.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Using file smooth edges
Step 7
Use a plastic mallet to more or less flatten your piece on your bench block. It does not have to be perfect and you do not want to remove the texture you just worked so hard to achieve.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Using plastic mallet to flatten.
Step 8
Clean the ink lines off the piece with a bit of alcohol on a cotton pad.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Copper sheet metal shapes
Step 9
Because hammering dramatically hardens the metal piece, anneal each piece to make it easier to form the cone shape of the flower.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Annealing copper sheet with hand torch
Step 10
Pickle the pieces to remove the fire scale.
Step 11
Sharpen a 1/2 inch dowel to a cone shape. Hint: You may be able to sharpen the dowel in a pencil sharpener if the opening in the sharpener is large enough. A file was used to sharpen this dowel after a bit of whittling. The angle of the point determines the spread of the flower cone. The heavy lines denote a 1" grid and the dots1/4 inch. The size of the dowel and the length of the cone will determine the size of the lower opening of the flower.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Wooden dowel
Step 12
Place the point of the dowel just below the top curved edge of the petal. You may wish to make both earrings roll the same direction, or make each a mirror image of each other.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet with round nose pliers
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet with round nose pliers
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet
Step 13
Use the tips of your round nose pliers to roll/curl the edge of the petal outward. The size and placement of the roll is up to you and can be changed any time during the construction of the earrings.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder,  Forming copper sheet with round nose pliers
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder,  Forming copper sheet
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder,  Forming copper sheet with round nose pliers
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder,  Forming copper sheet
Step 14
To ruffle the cone, use a twisting motion with the tips of your round nose pliers. The deeper you place the pliers when twisting, the more pronounced the ruffle will be. Because the cone may curve inward after doing this, you can straighten the cone by using the full tip of your round nose pliers as shown in the photos in step 13. Of course, you can leave the edge plain, or just very slightly ruffle the edges.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Forming copper sheet metal
Step 15
Lightly file the edge, which may have not met evenly when you rolled it on the dowel, by dragging the top of the cone across a fine file.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Filing edges to smooth.
Step 16
At this point, you can tumble the flower cone, patina and polish it. Or you can wait until you are done with construction.
Step 17
Straighten and cut a 3" piece of 18 or 20 gauge round wire for each eye pin. Note: 18 gauge wire was used in this tutorial, but it can be difficult to make a wire wrapped loop with it so you may wish to use 20 gauge wire. You can use your round nose pliers or step 2 of your 6 step barrel pliers to make the 3.25mm ID eye loop on one end of the wire.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Copper Head Pin
Step 18
Each earring has three stamens of different lengths dangling from the inside of the cone. Cut balled head pins at the following lengths for each earring: 15/16", 11/16" and 9/16". Make a small eye loop at the top of each head pin, making sure that it will swing freely on the wire you have chosen for the eye pin made above. If you are using head pins with beads, cut the head pins at those lengths, slide the beads on and make the eye loop. Hint: If you do not want to use three dangling stamens, one large bead on a head pin pulled up through the center of the cone looks fabulous!
Step 19
Open the eye pin loop. Slide each balled head pin on, with the longest in the center. Close the eye pin loop.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Using eye pins and balled head pins.
Step 20
Slide the eye pin into the flower and out through the hole in the top. If the wire does not fit through the hole in the top, use a bead reamer to clean up the hole and enlarge it a bit. The eye pin should be positioned sideways so the head pins will lie side by side.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Use bead reamer if needed.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Eye pins and balled head pins.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Center of copper sheet calla lilly.
Step 21
Make a wire wrapped loop with the eye pin wire, keeping this loop sideways as well.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Wire wrapped loop.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Wire wrapped loop
Step 22
Attach the ear wire.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Attach the ear wire.
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Attach the ear wire.
Step 23
Optional: Tumble the earrings with steel shot to harden and polish them.
Step 24
Optional: Patina the earrings, if desired, using a liver of sulphur solution. Polish with very fine steel wool to bring out the design of the earrings.
Step 25
Optional: Tumble for 30 minutes or so with steel shot if you want the earrings to have a brighter shine after the patina is applied. This will not affect the patina.
Congratulations! You've made your first set of Calla Lilly Earrings!
Judy Larson's Calla Lily Earrings - , Metalwork, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, Texturing, Tumbling, Tumble, Tumbling Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tumble for brighter shine