I was where you are at one time. I taught myself how to string beads. I made a thousand beaded necklaces to match every single outfit I own, plus every outfit of all my family members and friends.
Every single gift was beaded jewelry. Beaded sets of necklaces, bracelets and (if I’m honest) poorly made dangle earrings.
And I got bored. I didn’t really know how to do anything but string. I mastered it. I killed it. I was bored.
Then I picked up some wire. I was worried about using it. Surely I would mess it up.
I couldn’t even be creative because I didn’t even know what I could make. I was afraid to mess up my precious wire because I didn’t know what I was doing. I was overwhelmed and, well, still bored with stringing necklaces and bracelets.
Then I did it! I figured it out. I found some cheap wire and started playing with it and I figured it out!
Look, I know it doesn’t look simple or easy to wire wrap. But Wire Wrapping For Beginners takes you step-by-step through 23 projects. I assumed you knew nothing when you started the eBook, so I teach you everything you need to know.
Before long, you’ll be making wire wrapped jewelry like no one’s business!
Oh, and those crimp beads that fail or wire that breaks? Don’t worry about that anymore! Wire jewelry is much sturdier.
Seriously, you’re ready and I’m here to support you!
And if you master that, you can get $25 off the purpose of Wire Wrapping For Beginners, but just until April 8th, so don’t lollygag around! To get $25 off, use code Blog25 (put it in the coupon code box and click update cart!)
In Wire Wrapping For Beginners, I have a pair of earrings that are Hoops with a Dangle. In it, you could use pre-made hoops.
But, as you’re about to see, it’s really not difficult to make your own hoops!
Hoop Earrings Tutorial
+ Bonus Junk Earrings Tutorial!
Tools and Materials:
Round, 20 gauge wire.
Round Nose Pliers
Bend nose (or you can use your needle nose) pliers
Wire cutters
Ring mandrel
Jewelry hammer
Metal block or anvil on which to hammer
A quick lesson about wire cutters:
Wire cutters typically have 2 sides that cut in two different ways.
This side makes a pinch cut.
This side makes a flush cut.
The side that is toward the wire that you are keeping or using in the design is the side I’m talking about here.
So, in the photo, the LEFT side would have the flush cut and the RIGHT side would have the pinched cut.
We want to start with a flush cut almost always when we’re starting a project. So it’s always a good idea to trim the end off with a flush cut.
Step #1
Cut 2 pieces of wire about 3 1/2″. Make sure to flush cut each side.
Make sure the 2 pieces of wire are the same length. It matters less what the actual length is than that they are the same.
Step #2
Using round nose pliers, make a loop in one side of each wire.
Step #3
Straighten the loops so they’re centered on the wire.
Step #4
Lightly hammer each loop (and only the loop.)
Step #5
Wrap around your ring mandrel to give the hoop it’s hoop shape!
See how the end of the wire just meets up withe loop.
Step #6
Hammer the hoop. Put the loop over the edge so not to damage it and hammer, leaving about 1/4″ – 1/2″ unhammered at the ends.
If you don’t have supplies for hammering, it’s okay. Hammering helps the hoops keep their shape. If you don’t, you’ll just have to be extra careful with your earrings.
Step #7
Use your pliers to bend back a tiny part of the wire to make a “catch” that will hook into the loop. This bent up part will be about 1/8 of an inch.
Step #8
Hook the earrings and put them back on the ring mandrel. I like to push as far as I can because it will stretch the wire a little and make a more perfect circle. Be careful, though, and don’t let the earring come unlatched. If you push it down too far and the latch comes unhooked, you will mess up the shape of your hoops.
Step #9
You could wear these hoops just as is, or
Add a bead dangle or charm to them.
Or
Make Junk Earrings!
I actually had a customer tell me about these when they saw my hoop earrings with hardware on them. She told me she had been to France and these “junk” earrings (or she might have called them garbage earrings or trash earrings or something else) were all the rage. Basically, just put trash on a hoop and wear them.
I didn’t actually see these earrings, but I decided to come up with my own version based upon what she told me.
Step #10
Go through your recycling bin and find plastic containers. I have a combination of shampoo/conditioner and other bottles and toothpaste tubes here. Plus washers.
You’ll need strong scissors for the plastic bottles. Cut them into whatever shapes you like.
Step #11
Use an awl to punch holes in the plastic pieces.
Step #12
Then just slide on your pieces in any order or way you like!
Other ideas for what you could put on your junk earrings:
Buttons
Tabs from soda cans
Paper – I would treat it to withstand the weather, though.
Gun wrappers
Washers
Rubber bands
Ties from bread loafs
Anything else you can think of!
Just remember that you’ll be wearing them on your ears, so don’t make them too heavy or they could pull at your ears, or worse, rip your earring holes!
Enjoy!
The hoop tutorial is in Wire Wrapping for Beginners along with 9 other earring tutorials plus bracelet, necklace and wire wrapped rings tutorials.
I’m so happy to share my new YouTube video channel and my first Wire Wrapping Video Tutorial! This is my first attempt at video editing, so I’m sure I’ll get better as I go!
If you want to print the tutorial and see written directions, click on the link to download the PDF version of the Simple Dangle Earring Tutorial.
Just a reminder, it’s Wire Wrapping For Beginners month here at Emerging Creatively Tutorials! I’m have a giveaway and big discount for Wire Wrapping For Beginners! Learn how to enter to win or get the discount by clicking here. (Also sign up for the free Wire Wrapping mini series there, too!)
