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Enameled Hidden Heart Tutorial

Created by: Mollie Valente

Make your Enamel Disk
Use the dapping set to dome the copper blank.
(See Rings & Things blog post: How to Dap and Dome Metal Jewelry.)
Fire the concave (back side) of the copper blank with spruce green enamel (counter enamel). Or you can use the enamel colors of your choice.
(Follow firing and safety instructions from the Thompson Enamel Workbook or Rings & Things blog post: Torch Fired Enamels.)
Clean the domed copper blank with Penny Brite.
Fire the convex (front side) of the domed blank with pea green.
Sift and fire a second enamel layer with part orchid and part robin's egg blue.

Continued Below...

Make your Enamel Disk, Continued

Sift a layer of marigold yellow onto the cooled disk. Now use a scribe (a toothpick works great) to draw a design in the sifted enamel. This technique is called sgraffito.
Fire the enamel design.
Place in heated vermiculite and allow to fully cool. (The Little Dipper Pickle Pot works great for warming vermiculite.)

Finish the Necklace

Twist open an 8mm jump ring and string on the enameled pendant. Twist the jump ring to close it.
Twist open a 6mm jump ring and string on the heart pendant. Twist the jump ring to close it.
Twist open a 4.5mm jump ring and link the pendant and heart together. Position the heart so it dangles freely inside the concave side of the pendant.
Unclasp the mesh choker and string through the 8mm jump ring attached to the pendant. Clasp the mesh choker.

Suggested Supplies

1 each #44-780-70 Copper Blank, 25mm Round, 24-gauge
1 each #81-500-500-1335-S Thompson Opaque 80-mesh Enamel for Metals - Pea Green, Sample
1 each #81-500-1750-S Thompson Opaque 80-mesh Enamel for Metals - Orchid, Sample
1 each #81-500-1410-S Thompson Opaque 80-mesh Enamel for Metals - Robin's Egg (Blue), Sample
1 each #81-500-1830-S Thompson Opaque 80-mesh Enamel for Metals - Marigold Yellow, Sample
1 ten-pack (use 1 piece) #52-293-16-9 Gunmetal Metal Mesh Choker, 3mm Round
1 ounce (use 3 pieces) #37-100-9 Gunmetal Jump Ring, Round, Assorted Sizes (use 8mm, 4.5mm, and 6mm)
1 each #06-228-10-02 Swarovski 6228 Heart Pendant, 10mm - AB