It is very easy and inspiring to cut a pile of posies from a strip of beautiful leather! These layered metal and leather flowers are dramatic and lightweight, and can be created in an unlimited number of color combinations. The palette of gold, sand, brown and turquoise leather is trés Bohemian, especially with the antique brass acorn bead caps and the jasmine shaped metal flower accents. Doming the metal flower provides a gently shaped blossom that hangs very nicely from the ear.
This project requires basic jewelry making tools and skills, and the Movers and Shapers Star Jasmine Die to create leather flowers using a portable rolling machine, either:
Sizzix BigKick and #69-520 Jewelry Studio Conversion Bundle - or -
#69-500 The Jewelry Making Studio
Continued Below...
Designer Tips
Familiarize yourself with your rolling machine. To use Movers and Shapers Magnetic dies using your BigKICK machine, you will need the Shuttle from the Conversion Bundle and the Cutting Pad from your BigKICK.
Read and follow the instructions printed on the shuttle, first! Before rolling, layer your items: 1) Cutting Pad (top) 2) Leather (smooth side down) 3) Die (foam side up, magnet side down) 4) Shuttle (bottom)
Cut and punch leather flowers using: 1 #61-092-59 - metallic gold leather 1-3/8" flower 1 #61-093-48 - sand leather 1-1/4" flower 1 #61-094-01-17 - turquoise leather 3/4" flower 1 #69-234 - punch a hole in each leather flower using the 1.25mm hole punch
Shape metal flowers: 1 #69-199 - Dapping Set (see blog for tips on how to use) 1 #69-345 - Brass Hammer (best hammer for dapping and doming) 2 #88-103-04-0 - Lightly dome this large metal flower blank
Assemble: 1 Basic Jewelry Making Tool Set (such as #69-291), for creating earrings. 1 #68-007-01 - Technique sheet on jewelry making basics. 2 #37-422-6 - Carefully bend each head pin into an L shape to hold the flowers in a gently dangling manner once all pieces have been arranged. 2 #05-045-04-445 - Add one 4mm Swarovski Rondelle Crystal Paradise bead to the head pin. 2 #88-100-11-0 - Place a reversed bead cap on each crystal. Continue layering: Small turquoise flower, dapped metal flower, medium sand flower, large metallic gold flower. Bend the head pin in a 90 degree angle, wire wrap the end making a loop. 1 #34-362-6 - Gently opening the loop of the French hook, attach the layered flower.
Tips
You can lightly polish the high points of the bead cap for more dramatic contrast and interest.
A ball-end head pin would be a nice decorative element.
You can use other colors of leather, crystal and findings to suit your palette. (Click the "Related Products" tab of any item, to find similar items.)
The dapped metal flower could either curve toward the back or the front of the earring. This design has it curving back.
We sell replacement cutting pads if yours is getting worn out.
The die will cut into the cutting pad as it cuts the leather – do not be alarmed; this is normal.
