Jewelry Making Templates

by Judy Larson
Jewelry making templates are available in a plethora of designs/shapes/styles. Some templates are traced around the shaper while others are traced inside the shape. It can be difficult to hold a shape in place with one hand while tracing the full perimeter with the other. In that case, using a template that is traced around the inside edge to obtain the desired shape is the answer.

It is easy to make a template if a specific shape is desired. A cleaned and dried thick piece of plastic from a processed meat package makes a great template base. One side of the plastic sheet used here is smooth and the other side is slightly pebbled, which makes the template slide a bit less during use. Bonus: These templates work well with metal clay, too.
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, , templates
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, , templates
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, , templates
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: $59.57
  • Gold Club Price: $44.68
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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