●HAMMERED COPPER LEAVES EARRINGS●

I made this pair of earrings with a scrap sheet of copper.

They take about an hour to make, but they are pretty easy.

Step 1: WHAT YOU NEED

MATERIALS:

-copper sheet;

-earrings hoops;

-beads (optional).

TOOLS:

-iron shears;

-files, fine grain and rough grain;

-propane torch;
-hammer (with one edge sharp);

-one sharp nail;

-vice;

-paper and pencil;

-hard flat surface.

Step 2: CUT THE SHHET

Draw a leaves shape on a piece of paper, than surround it with a rectangular shape.

Cut that shape on the copper sheet.

!USE GLOWS AND BE CAREFUL!

Step 3: FOLD IN HALF

Put the copper rectangular piece in a vice, bend it in half with an hammer.

Transfer it on an hard surface and hammer flat in half.

Step 4: CUT IT IN a LEAVES SHAPE

Draw the leaves on the piece and cut it.

Step 5: FILE THE LEAVES

File down the leaves, especially on the bottom and top edges.

Step 6: HAMMER THE LEAVES

Hammer the leaves with the sharp part of the hammer.

-Start from the center part of the leaves and go up, then from the center down, perpendicular to the fold.

-Avoid to hammer the fold.

-As more you will hammer it as more the leaves will be twisted and have a texture when you will open it.

Step 7: ANNEALING

With the propane torch heat up your pieces for about a minute, than put them in cold water just to cool down.

Do it on a heat proof surface, far away from everything.

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS

Step 8: OPEN THE LEAVES

Open the leaves, been careful not to scratch them.

Step 9: ROUND ONE EDGE

File down again the sharp edges and round one edge of the leaves.

Step 10: POKE AN HOLE

Poke an hole with the nail and the hammer on the edge you just round up.

*(If you like you can polish the leaves, I did it a little bit to add shines. )

Step 11: ADD THE HOOKS

Add the earrings hooks directly in the hole or add some wire and beads if you like.

Step 12: DONE

Done!!

Thanks for watching. And feel free to give any tips or advice.