ECT TV Episode 44: Button Earrings
In today's episode of Emerging Creatively Tutorials TV (ECT TV), learn how to make button earrings.
These earrings coordinate with the Buttons and Butterflies Necklace from ECT TV Episode 43.The main skill you'll learn in this episode is how to open and close jump rings.Video Tutorial:I showed how to make your own earring wires in ECT TV Episode 24. You can make your own or use pre-made earring wires if you like.Follow me on Instagram here. (@KimberlieKohler)And use the hashtag #ECTTV when sharing photos on Instagram of the projects you make from ECT TV.Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial for the Button Earrings:
Tools & Materials:
- Buttons - I used 6 for each earring
- 1 jump ring for each button *
- Earring wires (or see link above to make your own)
- Chain nose pliers
- Bent nose pliers
*If you did the project for ECT TV Episode 43 and are using the same buttons you probably already know what size jump rings to use. I used 3/8" buttons and 7 mm jump rings, but you may have to experiment with jump ring sizes to get the right size for your buttons.Step #1Lay out your buttons how you would like them to hang on the earrings. I used 6 for each earring, so I matched them up and placed them in a row. It's easier to do this at the beginning.Step #2
I like to open all the jump rings I need for a project at one time so I don't have to stop to open them as I go along.This project takes 12 jump rings.How to open a jump ring:
Find the opening slit in the jump ring. Hold the jump ring with chain nose pliers and bent nose pliers with the slit centered.
Move one pair of pliers toward you and the other away from you to open the jump ring. Do not open it out. You'll maintain the circle but just open the jump ring.
Step #3
Add a button to one of the jump rings.Step #4
Close the jump ring. To close a jump ring just do what you did to open it but in reverse. I like to go back and forth the point where it would be closed a couple times. You may hear or feel it click closed.Step #5
Add an open jump ring to the closed jump ring.Step #6
Add the next button to the open jump ring and close it.
Step #7
Continue to add the buttons with jump rings in the same way until all six are added.HINT: To make a balanced pair of earrings, make sure that you place every other button on every other side of the earrings as you go along.Step #8
Open an earring wire. (Just like opening jump rings.)Step #9
Place the top jump ring into the earring wire.Step #10
Close the earring wire.Step #11
Repeat for the second earring.Then take a photo on Instagram and use the hashtag #ECTTV :)
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