Tree treasures from Taos - metal ornament

Sunset, Dec, 1994 by Peter O. Whiteley

Make these elegant metal ornaments in minutes

HAND-CUT METAL ornaments are part of the rich crafts tradition of the Southwest. Rose Tollardo-Valdez, a nationally known artist from Taos, New Mexico, creates designs that look like shiny snowflakes, spiraling stars, frilly flowers, and high-waisted angels. She shared a few of her simplest patterns with us; you'll find that they are surprisingly easy to make.

Each starts with a thin piece of metal. Tollardo-Valdez often uses coffee can lids, but we've substituted a material easier for novices to use: lightweight aluminum flashing. It's sold by the foot at most hardware stores in rolls of various widths. We bought a 10-foot length of 8-inch-wide aluminum--enough to make at least 20 ornaments--for about $7.

The most important tool for this project is a good pair of snips. They should be sharp enough to be able to cut the aluminum cleanly, leaving no jagged or curled edges, and must be small enough to cut some of the fine details.

DRAW, PUNCH, AND CUT

Cut a square of aluminum flashing slightly larger than the diameter of the ornament you wish to make (we made ours about 5 inches in diameter). Use a compass and a nylon-tip pen with water-based ink to draw a circle, then use the pen and a ruler to make subsequent lines. Start by dividing the circle into quarters, then divide them into smaller segments. Tollardo-Valdez divides the flower and snowflake shapes into more or less equal segments but avoids making sections exactly the same size in order to accentuate the handmade look.

Before you cut into the flower and snowflake ornaments, use a hammer and an ice pick or a screwdriver blade (flat or Phillips) to punch embossed details. For the star, cut out the shape first, then punch the line patterns. Use newspapers or stiff cardboard for a resilient backing; don't forget to make a hole to hang the ornament.

You may want to wear a pair of gloves for your first cutting attempts, though there shouldn't be any sharp edges if you make smooth, continuous cuts. After you've completed all cutting, wipe off the pen lines with a damp towel. The pliable metal segments of the flower and snowflake ornaments can be gently curved, twisted, or angled to create a three-dimensional effect.