Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Christmas memories of childhood started me thinking of snow, Children's Movies, Burl Ives singing

Silver and Gold Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Christmas memories of childhood started me thinking of snow, Children's Movies, Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" and how I could use the left over gold filled sheet I used to make Guardian Angel Ornaments for my grandchildren. These simple Artisan style earrings will be going to lots of friends this Christmas.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H19-24SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $40.55
  • Gold Club Price: $30.41
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24 Gauge Half Hard Double Clad Gold Filled Sheet - 4 Inches
H4-24DCS4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $59.83
  • Gold Club Price: $44.87
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Gold Filled Earwire Semi-Circle w/Bead End 14mm - Pack of 2
J19-56
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.48
  • Gold Club Price: $2.61
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Sterling Silver Earwires 29mm - Pack of 2
K19-55
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $30.64
  • Gold Club Price: $22.98
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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.
SOL-822.10
  • SOL-822.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.95
  • Gold Club Price: $12.71
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Aqui Flux, 1/2 Pint Spray Bottle
SOL-932.03
  • SOL-932.03
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.21
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Black Max
  • 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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Large Disc Cutter
DAP-410.10
  • DAP-410.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $55.95
  • Gold Club Price: $41.96
Out of Stock
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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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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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2
G17-9
  • G17-9
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
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GROBET FILE - BARRETTE CUT 2, 6"
FIL-31.030
  • FIL-31.030
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $31.20
  • Gold Club Price: $23.40
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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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Solderite Soldering Board 6 Inch by 6 Inch Soft
SOL-421.10
  • SOL-421.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.76
  • Gold Club Price: $11.07
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Wood Dapping Block with 2 Punches
DAP-128.00
  • DAP-128.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.23
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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces
CLN-584.00
  • CLN-584.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $31.95
  • Gold Club Price: $23.96
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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR
CLN-163.00
  • CLN-163.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $17.95
  • Gold Club Price: $13.46
Out of Stock
Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, Black
TRCH-8010
  • TRCH-8010
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $40.00
  • Gold Club Price: $30.00
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Instructions
Step 1
Decide on the shape, size, and orientation of the silver background pieces. This is my notebook sketch after I decided on the size, which is smaller than I usually make. It was time to work a bit outside my comfort zone. Once the sizes and shapes are determined, transfer the designs to the sheet metal using stickers, a Sharpie marker, etc.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 2
It is faster and easier to use metal shears instead of a saw to cut out all the shapes. Don't worry about the bent edges from shears. A disc cutter makes quick work of cutting circles, but it also leaves an edge ridge. Edging texture in Step 10 takes care of that. Use a file to round the corners on the square and rectangular shapes.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 3
Use a Sharpie to mark where to place the hole to hang each earring shape from ear wires. Punch the hole with a 1.25mm or 1.5mm hole punch. The backs of each shape can be metal content stamped at this time, if desired.

Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 4
Place the pieces on a piece of scrap paper on a bench block. Give both sides of the pieces a light sanding with a 280 grit sanding sponge.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 5
Cut small pieces of gold filled sheet in a variety of sizes. As each piece is cut, use the flat side of the Mini TruStrike Planishing Hammer to hammer it flat on a bench block.
Pro Tip: Make tiny shapes in wire and flatten to use as elements.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 6
Place the tiny gold pieces on the silver background in a pleasing arrangement. Leave space on each silver piece for background texturing.
Pro Tip: Work with only a few shapes at a time. Just a small jostling of the work surface and all the pieces will move out of place.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 7
Remove one piece of gold at a time. Place a SMALL amount of easy paste solder on that spot. Press the gold piece into the solder. If globs of solder squish out from under the gold, too much paste solder was used.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 8
Space the pieces out on a Solderite board. Warm the pieces with the torch. Mist the pieces with flux. Warm and flux again, and then heat until the solder flows. The flux protects the gold surface metal of the gold filled pieces. Easy paste solder flows at a low temperature, so the gold will not as easily get fire scale, which the flux also protects against.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 9
Pickle, rinse, and dry all the pieces. At this point, the silver background has a frosty appearance and the gold is not quite as shiny as it was originally.

Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 10
Hammering around the edges of each piece with the larger side of the Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer (large) give the edge a slight diamond cut appearance.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 11
Add "snow" to the pieces with the smaller side of the Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer (small). Use it more heavily in the more open areas on each piece. Avoid the attached gold pieces.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 12
Use a small dot metal stamp to add dots in areas where the Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer could not be used.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 13
Use the rounded side of the Mini TruStrike Planishing Hammer to "facet" the attached gold pieces.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 14
Run a 240 grit sanding pad around the edges of each piece. Tumble the pieces for several hours to finish softening the edges a bit.
Step 15
Patina the pieces. Gold does not take a liver of sulfur patina. The pieces could be called done right as they are quite striking, but over time, unless it is sealed, the dark patina will start to flake off.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 16
Use steel wool or a 400 grit sanding pad to remove patina to highlight the texture on each piece.
Step 17
Using a wooden dapping block and nylon punch will protect the texture on each piece. Place a piece right side down inside a dapping well. Use a nylon punch to shape the piece. Move down in well size until the desired dome is achieved.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 18
Use a 400 grit sanding pad to remove a bit more patina from some of the silver areas, if desired.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings
Step 19
Tumble 15 or 20 minutes to bring up a shine. If they are tumbled too long, a lot of patina will be removed, although some will still be left. When done, rinse and dry the pieces.
Step 20
Attach ear wires.
Judy Larson's Silver and Gold Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, silver and gold earrings