Christmas Tree Window Tutorial

Created by: Polly Nobbs LaRue

Designer Tips

Clean the door blanks with fine-grit sandpaper and a polishing cloth, or in a tumbler for 2-3 hours.
Find a pleasing portion of the Christmas tin, that fits in the window of the door blank. Draw around outside of door blank with fine-point permanent marker. Cut tin with shears at inside edge of line.
Stamp stars randomly on the front door panel, and add texture as desired with the rounded end of a ballpeen hammer. Stamp or hammer a design or pattern on the back too.
To make your pattern stand out, antique the brass pieces with Win-Ox. Dry thoroughly and polish as desired. Don't wait until the end to antique your design, as you don't know exactly what the "tin" is made of.
Sandwich the tin between the 2 pieces of the door blank, align edges carefully, and hold bottom half in place with Ring Clamp. Wedge clamp firmly to hold tight.

In one top corner, punch a 3/32" hole through all 3 pieces. Slide a 3/32" diameter x 3/32" long eyelet through this hole, and use the 3/32" eyelet flaring set to secure it. Repeat for other other top corner.
For bottom corners, use 1/16" cutter and rivets.

Q: Why use a mix of 3/32"-diameter eyelets, and 1/16"-diameter rivets?
A - eyelets: The 3/32" eyelets are a much better eyelet size than the tiny 1/16" eyelets, because they are large enough to put a decent-sized jump ring or bail through, to hang your pendant.
A - rivets: The 1/16" rivets... that's personal preference. I prefer the look of the 1/16" diameter rivets, but you can use either diameter.

File and/or sand any rough edges if necessary.
To use handmade wire rivets and tube eyelets instead of the Crafted Findings riveting system, see Riveting Techniques (PDF).
Did you know, you can also use the Crafted Findings rivets and eyelets with traditional "hammer and block" riveting (and eyelet setting) techniques -- see the Riveting Techniques PDF for an overview, and this nifty riveting block designed by Eugenia Chan.

Free Technique Sheets & How-Tos

Suggested Supplies

1 pkg of 10 sets [use 1 set] #44-721-01 Blank, Rectangular Paned Window (Raw Brass)
1 pkg of 120 [use 2] #69-952-01-2 Eyelet, 3/32", Assorted (Brass)
[Use shortest size (3/32" long)]
1 ea #86-915 Renaissance® Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish
1 pkg of 100 [use 2] #69-920-01-2 Rivet, 1/16", Sample Pack (Brass)
[Use second-shorted size (3/32" long)]
1 ea #86-343 Win-Ox™, 3 oz.

Tools

#63-549-RT Jewelry Care Cloth, 6x8", R&T Logo
#69-257-000 Polishing Paper, Assortment, Wetordry™ (Assorted) [Optional]
#69-355-08 Shinebrite™, for Tumbler, 8 oz.
#69-900 Tool, 1/16"" Rivet Piercing/ Setting (Steel)
#69-908 Tool, 3/32" Eyelet Flaring Set
#69-904 Tool, 3/32" Piercing Set (Steel) or #69-235 Tool, Metal Punch, Two Hole
#69-366 Tool, Economy Needle Files, 6pc
#65-910 Tool, 12-Face Hammer with 6 Texture Faces (Use "stripe" side)
#69-135 Tool, Hammer, Ballpeen, 4oz [Optional]
#69-345 Tool, Hammer, Brass, 2lb [or basic utility hammer from your garage]
#69-365 Tool, Ring Clamp
#69-245-18 Tool, Stamp, Star with Spiral (Tempered Steel)
#69-230 Tool, Shear, 7"
#69-282 Tool, Stainless Shot, 2lb
#69-125 Tool, Steel 4" Square Block
#69-281 Tool, Tumbler, 3lb Capacity