Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings | Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies

Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings

by Karen Meador, Ph.D.

Category: Enamel
Technique(s): Enamel
Skill Level: Beginner

It's easy to add a design in enamel over your first layer of enamel. Punch or cut out a stencil from paper and place over your enameled piece. Make your enameled designs your own with any stenciled addition!

Materials

Copper Circle, 24 Gauge, 1 Inch, Pack of 6

MET-500.15

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.57
Gold Club Price: $3.43

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Opaque Counter Enamel CE 3 (or other opaque) Opaque Isle Blue 1605 Enamel Opaque Bluejay Blue 1560 Enamel Transparency Raspberry 2836 Enamel Opaque Butter Yellow 1237 Enamel

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Black Magic Pickling

CLN-160.00

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Tools

Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $30.97
Gold Club Price: $23.23

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Deluxe 3-Hole Punch

PUN-420.03

PUN-420.03
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $48.95
Gold Club Price: $36.71

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Blazer Big Shot Torch

TRCH-8000

TRCH-8000
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $89.95
Gold Club Price: $67.46

Out of Stock

Soldering Tripod

SOL-730.00

SOL-730.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.95
Gold Club Price: $8.96

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Fire Brick

SOL-485.00

SOL-485.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.97
Gold Club Price: $8.98

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Straight Copper Tongs

TWZ-958.00

TWZ-958.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.57
Gold Club Price: $7.93

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24 Piece Dapping Punch Set

DAP-705.00

DAP-705.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $85.97
Gold Club Price: $64.48

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8 Inch Solid Brass Dual Head Hammer

G3-12

G3-12
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.57
Gold Club Price: $7.18

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Thompson 40 Mesh Sifter Small - Pack of 3

G11-4

G11-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.95
Gold Club Price: $11.96

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Instructions

Step 1

Safety: Please work responsibly for your own safety in your enameling studio. At a minimum, this includes the wearing dark safety glasses when using the torch and a dust mask at least while sifting. A fire extinguisher should also be at hand.

I torch enamel with a trivet atop a fire brick on a fire-proof surface using an oxygen/propane torch. Please use the enamel set up and torch that works best for you. If you have interest, you can see my set up at https://www.wirejewelry.com/jewelry_making_patterns_tutorials/Torch-Enameling-with-Opaque-Enamels_300.html

Step 2

Use two pre-cut disks or cut your own.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, disks for enamel

Step 3

Punch a hole in the top of each disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, punch a hole

Step 4

Use the dapping punch to give each disk a gentle curve toward the back.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, use the dapping block

Step 5

Sift and torch fire two coats of opaque Counter Enamel CE 3 on the back of each disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, counter enamel the backs

Step 6

Since I'm using a very light color for the first layer on the top of these earrings, I pickle the disks to remove the fire scale and oxides that developed during counter-enameling. Be sure to rinse off the pickle. This is not needed if the coat is a darker opaque. You can just rinse off the fire scale.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, pickle

Step 7

Apply and torch fire two coats of opaque Isle Blue 1605 on the tops of the disks. (After the second coat, I could still see a bit of the red oxide from the copper but decided not to do a third coat since I'm using a pinkish transparent in the end.)

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, apply enamel

Step 8

Prepare the stencil patterns using a punch and paper.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, cut out a stencil

Step 9

Working with one disk at a time, wet the stencil pattern in water and then position it on a disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, wet the stencils

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, position the stencil on the disk

Step 10

After the moisture on the space has dried slightly, apply a coat of opaque Bluejay Blue 1560. Grab the side of the wet pattern and pull it off the piece in one motion. Be sure this is dry and then fire the piece. You can sneak up on the disk with the flame by starting well below the piece and warming it as you make sure the piece is dry. You don't want it to spit enamel and ruin the design. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the second disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, remove the stencil

Step 11

Using a 150-mesh sifter, apply and fire a coat of transparent Raspberry 2837 on each disk. The 150-mesh sifter gives a light coat of enamel. If you don't have one just be sure the coat isn't too heavy.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, fire the disk

Step 12

Use a tool to place a tiny bit of opaque Butter Yellow 1238 in the center of each disk. I use a toothpick to spread this slightly so it isn't a big lump in the middle. You can use a tiny wet paint brush to remove excess yellow.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Torch Enameled Stencil Earrings - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, add a bit of yellow enamel

Step 13

Torch fire the disk and repeat steps 11 and 12 for the second one. Add ear wires

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Karen Meador, Ph.D.

Karen Meador, PhD, is a retired professor, educational consultant and musician whose research endeavors focused on creative thinking and gifted education. Her numerous books and articles for teachers addressed these topics. Dr. Meador currently pursues art through wire work, enameling and metalsmithing.