1.Place the 2 × I” piece of 18-gauge sterling
sheet silver onto a hard, flat surface. (For this
project I used a regular ball peen hammer
purchased at a home improvement store.
There are many great jeweler’s hammers
available, but if you are just starting out mak-
ing jewelry, you may want to start with this
inexpensive version.) Use the round end of
the ball peen hammer to strike the surface
of the sheet silver multiple times, making a
uniform hammered texture. If you will also
make the earring and necklace projects, you
may want to texture all of the sterling sheet
silver pieces at the same time.
2.Decide on the shape of the fish that you
want to use and draw the shape with marker
onto the 2 × I” piece of the sterling sheet
silver. You can free-hand draw the fish shape
or you can use a design from a wide selection
of available clip art. You may find that using
a simple shape will be easier the first time
you do this project.
3.Using a jeweler’s saw or tin snips, cut the fish
shape from the 2” × 2 I” hammered sterling
sheet silver. If you are using tin snips and not
a jeweler’s saw, cut outside the marker line
drawn around the fish shape to allow you
room to refine the edges with the file after
the fish shape is cut out. If you used tin
snips, the piece will not be flat after you cut
it, so you will need to place the fish shape on
a hard, flat surface and use a rawhide mallet
to flatten it. If you do not have a rawhide
mallet, place the fish shape on a hard, flat
surface, cover the piece with a thick piece
of scrap leather, and gently tap the leather
covered fish shape with a flat hammer to
flatten it.