Enameled Orchid Eye 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 orchid 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 orchid.
Sift a layer of robin's egg blue onto the cooled orchid 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

Suggested Supplies

1 each #44-780-70 Copper Blank, 25mm Round, 24-gauge
1 each #81-500-500-1750-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 ounce (use 1 piece) #37-167-1 White Plated Jump Ring, Round, 8mm
1 dozen (use 1 piece) #40-129-18-1 White Plated Fine Filed Cable Chain Necklace, 18"
1 hundred (use 4 pieces) #26-155-32-1 White Plated Metal Beads, Rondelle, 3.2mm