Dear Tabby, this has the makings of a tutorial, but I'll try to be brief.

I like to draw on 1mm graph paper because this often shows up faults in my proportions. It also verifies the sizes I should be choosing because they can be read directly off the page. There are other advantages, such as checking items for sqareness.

I am lucky to have access to a photocopier so that I can make labels to cut around. For many purposes I find it sufficient to fix them onto my silver with plenty of Pritt Stick, let it dry and then pierce away. The paper comes off later just with water.

If I need to be very accurate, once the label has stuck, I cut around my design with a newly snapped off craft blade(the kind with diagonal segments). This in effect scribes the metal. For any straight lines I use a ruler. For perfect circles I only mark the centre and complete with dividers when the paper is off again. Dennis