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Jewelry Making Templates

by Judy Larson
Jewelry making templates come in many shapes and styles. Some are traced around the outside edge, while others are traced on the inside. If you have ever struggled to hold a template steady with one hand while tracing with the other, you are not alone.

In this jewelry making tip, Judy Larson will show you a simple solution that makes shaping easier and more accurate.

You can also create your own templates when you need a specific design. A cleaned and dried piece of thick plastic from a processed meat package works perfectly. One side is smooth and the other is slightly pebbled, which helps prevent slipping.

These homemade templates also work beautifully with metal clay.
Instructions
Choose a good, sharp cutting tool.

The cutting blade tip must be VERY sharp.

It is easy to always have a sharp tip cutting blade on hand when using the orange handle style seen here.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Making Templates - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , Choose a good, sharp cutting tool.
Place the plastic sheet on a smooth ceramic tile.

Use an ultra fine point Sharpie marker to draw the desired template shape on the plastic sheet.

Straight lines can more easily be cut by cutting along the edge of a ruler placed on the line to be cut.

Because it is too easy to cut beyond a corner, do not use the blade to cut corners.

Here, all four sides are cut, but the corners are left attached.

Hint: Several light passes with the cutting blade will work better than one heavy cut.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Making Templates - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , Use an ultra fine point Sharpie marke
Slide the tips of a pair of scissors that can cut to the very tip into a cut.

Hint: Manicure scissors are great for cutting curves and into corners.

Cut across the interior of the shape to the other side where there is previous cut.

Use the tips of the scissors to complete the corner cut, being careful to not cut beyond the corner.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Making Templates - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , Slide the tips of a pair
Judy Larson's Jewelry Making Templates - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , 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: $82.30
  • Gold Club Price: $61.72
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Tools

Bench Knife, 6 Inches
KNF-967.00
  • KNF-967.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.95
  • Gold Club Price: $3.71
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  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Design, General Education

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