Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings, Holiday Designs. Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Have you ever noticed that half the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas song we are so familiar with are birds?! After the first three bird days were designed, something different was needed so doing a word association chain helped to come up with ideas for the other birds as well as the remaining days.

Two Turtle Doves Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Holiday Designs
  • Technique(s): Cutting, Texturing, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Have you ever noticed that half the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas song we are so familiar with are birds?! After the first three bird days were designed, something different was needed so doing a word association chain helped to come up with ideas for the other birds as well as the remaining days.
The biggest challenge making these earrings was to use only what was on hand, mostly leftovers from other projects, which is how things were done when this song first became popular. 24 gauge Argentium silver scrap sheet and leftover Argentium wire were used for all the designs except for the jump rings and dots made from gold filled scrap on The Fifth Day of Christmas.
Rolling mill laser cut texture sheets were used for many of the designs, but metal stamps will also work. If the metal is annealed, texture sheets can be hammered onto the metal to be textured to impart designs. Be aware that the textures will usually not be as sharp as when a rolling mill is used. The shapes are what makes each earring, but texture is always fun to add. Play with texture hammers, stamps, etc. to make your own versions of these earrings.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H19-24SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $51.80
  • Gold Club Price: $38.85
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20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.47
  • Gold Club Price: $3.35
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Tools

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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Basic Sawing Kit
G15-7
  • G15-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $34.95
  • Gold Club Price: $26.21
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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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Wubbers Artisan's Mark 4 Pc Texture Hammer Set
HAM-6100
  • HAM-6100
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $99.95
  • Gold Club Price: $74.96
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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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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches
G17-44
  • G17-44
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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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
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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Instructions
Step 1
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. 
Hearts are often seen in combined with turtle doves in jewelry. When I realized that a left and right wing set side by side resembled a heart shape, Bingo! Heart shaped wings. A wider tail would also look nice so both cutting lines are shown on the template.

Decide on what texture or metal stamps to use for the bird wings. Because any texturing/stamping will distort the metal shape, it is best to texture the 24-gauge Argentium sheet metal before cutting out the design. Glue the templates in place on the metal. Cut the bird bodies and wings out.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, templates
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 2
Use a center punch or small period punch to impress the eye dot. See Step 5 before doing this: Use the same tool to impress the spots on the bird belly.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 3
Remove the paper templates from all the metal pieces.
Step 4
Use a small straight design stamp to make tail feathers. ALL textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before soldering pieces together.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 5
Decide where the wings will be placed. The wings may cover some or all of the dots on the bird belly, depending on where they are placed.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 6
Place the birds face up on a soldering block. Put medium paste solder as shown on the back of the wings. If the wing tips will be above the bird body, do not put solder there. Press the wings into place on the bird bodies. Heat until the solder flows. Do not quench. Allow to cool naturally.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 7
Cut two 2" (51mm) long pieces of 20 gauge round Argentium wire. Ball both ends of each wire so each piece becomes 1½" (appx. 38mm) long.
Step 8
Place the birds face down on a solder block. Bend the balled wires in half. Position the hanging loop/legs assemblies on the back of the birds. Use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to draw a line on each bird to help in placing a line of medium paste solder on the back of each bird.
Press the hanging loop/legs assemblies into the paste solder. Heat until the solder flows. Allow to cool naturally.
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings
Step 9
Heat the birds with a butane torch until the solder flows. Allow the pieces to cool on the solder brick. Pickle, rinse, and dry the birds. Tumble the birds for several hours.
Step 10
Patina the birds if desired. The birds shown have patina added.
Add ear wires
Judy Larson's Two Turtle Doves Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, two turtle doves earrings