Teardrop Earrings and Pendant

Skill Level: Intermediate

Soldering experience is necessary to make this jewelry set IF you want to add the bezels.

Materials:

• 24 gauge sheet metal - use the three teardrop and one bail templates
• Set of purchased ear wires or make your own
• One purchased bail or make your own (shown)
• The pendant bezel is made from 1/8" of 3/8" ID pipe and the earring bezels are each made from 1/8″ of ¼” ID pipe (do not use copper tubing - you will want to use Metal Tubing that is designated for Jewelry making)
• Bezel filling: amethyst mini chips in resin were used here. You could use small stones or anything you want.

Tools and Other Supplies:

• Tools for your preferred method of cutting out sheet metal shapes
• Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer
• Rubber or plastic mallet
• Bench block
• 1.5mm hole punch
• Tools and solder for your preferred method of soldering
• Pipe cutter
• Flat or chain nose pliers
• Ultra fine point permanent
• File
• Pickle pot and pickle
• Tumbler with steel shot
• Liver of sulfur and 0000 steel wool

Directions:

Step 1: Copy the three teardrop and one bail templates.

Step 2: Transfer the designs to your sheet metal.

Step 3: Cut the teardrops out using your preferred method for cutting sheet metal.

Step 4: File any sharp edges.

Step 5: Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make holes in the center top of each piece.

Step 6: Decide on the position of the design elements you want for your pieces. Use an ultra fine point permanent marker to draw these lines on the front of each piece.

Step 7: Place each teardrop shape on a bench block. Use the larger side of the Mini TruStrike Embossing Hammer to texture the area that will be under the bezel on each teardrop.

Step 8: Use the narrower side of the Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to texture the outer edge of each teardrop.

Step 9: The metal pieces will no longer be flat after texturing. Place each piece on a bench block and use a rubber or plastic mallet to flatten them.

Step 10: Remove the marker lines from the pieces with an alcohol soaked pad.

Your shell pieces should now look like those above.

Step 11: You can use your textured pieces as is or add a bezel. Use a pipe cutter to cut one 1/8" piece of 3/8" ID pipe for the pendant and two 1/8" pieces of 1/4" ID pipe for the earrings.

Step 12: Drag one end of each pipe bezel over a file to flatten the ends.

Step 13: Solder the bezels in place using your preferred method.

Step 14: Pickle the pieces to remove fire scale.

Step 15: Use the narrower side of the Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer to texture the top edge of the bezel.

Step 16: Tumble the pieces in steel shot to shine them up or use 0000 steel wool to polish them.

Step 17: Attach ear wires to the earrings and the bail to the pendant.

Step 18: You can leave your pieces bright and shiny, in which case you can now fill them. Or, use liver of sulfur to patina your pieces. Buff with 0000 steel wool to bring out the dimension of your texturing, then fill. Amethyst chips in resin were used here.

Copper Bezel Teardrop Earrings filled with antique glass glitter and resin.

Congratulations! You've made your first set of Teardrop Earrings and Pendant!

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