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Soldered Button Flowers – Plant Pokes

soldered button flowers

This soldered button flowers idea is inspired by spring! We’ve been sprucing up our front and back patio area and I’ve been making plant pokes like crazy! Plant pokes are fabulous because they are like jewelry for your garden, right? I thought this would make a great tutorial for my “Torchbearer” Bernzomatic post this month.

I dipped into my button stash and found all kinds of large ceramic buttons and used them as the base. You could also use wood, metal, even plastic.

SUPPLIES:
Bernzomatic ST2200 Micro torch
Bernzomatic Solder, Flux
Protective gloves and goggles
Heat resistant surface ( I use a kiln shelf)
Copper tape
Wire cutters, pliers
Large buttons
Wood skewer
Clamps

Directions:

Clean your button free of dust and debris.

Line up the copper tape to go all around the edge of the button and so it evenly overlaps on both sides. You may need a wider copper tape if you are using a thick button. Or two layers of thinner copper tape.

Burnish the edges, front and back. The goal is to get that tape flush with the surface of the button. This will make for a smooth soldered look.

Coat the tape with the flux, evenly.

Put on the gloves and goggles.

Now it’s time to use the Bernzomatic micro torch! I now own three of these. One for traveling, one for my studio and one because sometimes I’ll have a friend over who wants to use it too. I love this tool because it’s so lightweight and you can use it as a mini heat gun, a soldering iron or a micro torch!

Read the torch’s directions to ignite it. Make sure to keep the vent hole up and away from you. Once the tool is heated, touch it to the solder wire until it melts and then drag it all along the copper tape. Use the clamps to prop the button upright to make it easier to solder.

Now comes the fun part! Let’s make the pedals!

Related: How to turn broken pottery into fabulous jewelry!

Cut equal pieces of the solder wire.

Use the top of a can to shape them into a half circle.

Place the button face down and set the petals all around. Make sure to do this on a heat resistant surface.

Use the soldering technique I shared above to solder the petals all around the button.

Let cool and wipe clean of debris.

Glue a skewer to the back, or even solder it at the bottom of the button flower. I wish I had thought of that before I soldered on all the petals. You can leave it as a button, maybe use the holes to add a charm, or glue a centerpiece design in the middle like I did. I have a lot of ceramic knickknacks I made that I keep and I used one for this.

LOVE!!! I can’t wait to make more of these soldered button flowers to give as gifts. Think of the possibilities!

You can even use a chasing hammer to texturize the petals.

Add color by adding inlays inside the petals.

soldered button plant pokes

Thanks for checking out my soldered button flowers project!

Torch Bearer Logo

From the Bernzomatic site:

“Find Your Fire. There’s a fire in each of us. Waiting to ignite. We believe in carrying the torch ignited by our founder in 1876—whose quality craftsmanship and progressive mindset are what blazed the trail that got us here today. We believe in awakening the innovators in all of us—inspiring a culture of creators who can break boundaries, mark new territory and go where no flame has burned before. We believe in empowering those who’ve found their flame and dare to follow it. Because the ones who do are the catalysts of bold transformations that redefine the limits of what we can achieve.   We believe in our fire and in your fire. It’s time to ignite.”

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