How to Make Metal Jewelry Pendants
A pendant is a piece of jewelry that is traditionally dangled from a necklace. Pendants come in virtually any shape, size, color and style you can imagine. They may be fashioned of beads, glass, porcelain, gemstones, plastic, or clay.
Some of the most popular and readily available pendants are made of metal, such as brass, copper, sterling silver, or gold. The process of making metal jewelry pendants by hand is both fun and simple.
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Things You'll Need
- Copper, brass, sterling silver, or gold sheet metal
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Tin snips
- Sandpaper
- Hammer
- Nail
- Copper, brass, sterling silver or gold jump ring
- Pliers
Instructions
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Making Metal Jewelry Pendants
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1
Obtain a piece of copper, brass, sterling silver or gold sheet metal from a jewelry supply retailer. Buy a sheet large enough to create the pendant you have in mind, and thick enough to be suitably durable.
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2
Create a design for your pendant. Develop a design that will look attractive when cut from a flat sheet of metal, such as bird, heart, or cross.
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3
Use a pencil to draw an outline of your design on a sturdy piece of paper. Cut out the design with scissors. Use it as a template to trace the same design in pencil onto your sheet metal.
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4
Cut the pendant out of the sheet metal with scissors or tin snips. Tin snips may cut more easily through the metal, while scissors may be useful for delicate designs.
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5
Sand the edges of the cut out pendant to make them smooth. Sand away all sharp edges and points, which will make the pendant uncomfortable to wear and easily snagged on clothing.
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6
Hammer a nail through the top of the pendant to create a single hole. Remove the nail. Smooth the inside and outside of the hole with sandpaper.
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7
Select a jump ring in a metal that matches your pendant. Use pliers to open the jump ring. Slip the jump ring through the hole in your pendant. Hook the jump ring around your necklace and use pliers to close the jump ring completely. Your pendant is suspended.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that the higher the gauge of your sheet metal, the thinner the metal will be. Therefore, 22-gauge sheet metal will be heavier than 28 gauge.
To be creative, suspend your pendant from a strip of leather, a ribbon or a silk cord rather than a traditional chain.
