Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings, Holiday Designs. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. I found a bunch of bird nest charms in my stash that I made years ago, added ear wires, and within a few minutes had oodles of Bird Nest Earrings!  Bird nests are quick and easy to make.

Six Geese a Layin' Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Holiday Designs
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Beginner
I found a bunch of bird nest charms in my stash that I made years ago, added ear wires, and within a few minutes had oodles of Bird Nest Earrings! Bird nests are quick and easy to make. You are sure to find a design that you love by doing a Google search. 

Materials

20 Gauge Round Brushed Silver Enameled Craft Wire - 40ft
H5-S20-40FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.90
  • Gold Club Price: $7.43
Out of Stock
18 Gauge Square Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-18SQH
  • Lesson Quantity: 5.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $6.94
  • Gold Club Price: $5.20
Add to Bag
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
Add to Bag
2mm 18gauge sterling jump ring
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

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
Out of Stock
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
Add to Bag
Nylon Ring Bending Pliers
PLR-841.00
  • PLR-841.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $20.97
  • Gold Club Price: $15.73
Add to Bag
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
Add to Bag
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
Add to Bag
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
Dead Blow Brass Hammer - 2 lb. Brass Hammer
HAM-456.20
  • HAM-456.20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.97
  • Gold Club Price: $24.73
Add to Bag
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
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart
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. 

Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 2
I found a bunch of bird nest charms in my stash that I made years ago, added ear wires, and within a few minutes had oodles of Bird Nest Earrings! Bird nests are quick and easy to make. You are sure to find a design that you love by doing a Google search. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 3:
Egg Shapes Inside Egg Shapes for a Cobblestone Effect:
Cut two 2¼" pieces (appx. 57mm) of 18 gauge square Argentium wire. File both ends flat so a flush seam can be made.   
Step 4
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. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 5
Use a rubber/nylon or rawhide mallet to round each ring on a hoop mandrel. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 6
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. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 7
Use nylon deep bending pliers to made a deep bend on one mark, creating a fat teardrop shape. Use a soft jaw pliers to bend the rest of the teardrop into more or less an egg shape. Repeat with the other ring. Keep adjusting the shape until both rings are as close to the same shape as possible. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 8
Flatten the shaped wire again as in Step 6. 
Because any texturing/stamping will distort the metal shape, it is best to texture the 24 gauge Argentium sheet metal before using it. A Mini TruStrike Designer/Texture Hammer will impart a background texture with the same feeling as this texture sheet. The textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before soldering the small eggs and the wire egg shapes to them. 
Step 9
Place medium paste solder on the back of the wire shape above the lower marks. Press it into place on the backing.   

Decide how you want the shapes to hang. Here, medium paste solder was added to the textured backing outside narrow end of the wire shape, as well as on the outer edge of the wire shape in the same spot. A closed 18 gauge 2mm ID jump ring was pushed into the paste solder, making sure the jump ring was pushed against the wire shape.  
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 10
Decide how each egg shape will be positioned inside the "nest" wire frame. One at a time, place a dot of medium paste solder on the back side of an egg shape and press into place.
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 11
When all the egg shapes are in place, heat the assemblies with a butane torch until the solder flows. 

Trim excess backing away around the egg shapes and jump rings. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the shapes. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole inside the small jump ring. 
Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings
Step 12
Pickle, rinse, and dry the "nests". Tumble the "nests" for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The "nests" shown have patina added. 
Add ear wires.