ECT TV Episode 49: Wire Work Earrings
Today is Day 15 of Earrings Every Day Month here at Emerging Creatively Tutorials. So I'm sharing an earring project with you today.These earrings are pretty simple, but I think they're elegant and fun. There is a lot of room to customize them to your own taste and preferences as well.Here's the video tutorial:Music credit: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Links I mention in the video:HeadpinsYou can certainly use pre-made headpins or you can make your own. I have a few tutorials:Ornate HeadpinsOpen Spiral and Knotted HeadpinsInfinity HeadpinsEarring WiresAgain, you can use earring wires you purchase from the store or they're pretty simple to make yourself. I have a tutorial for earring wires here:How to Make Earring WiresOpening Jump RingsIf you need more help opening and closing jump rings properly, you can find the video here:How to Open and Close Jump RingsStep-by-Step Photo Instructions:
Tools and Materials:
- 2 Beads of your choice *
- 2 Head pins (either purchased or make your own with one of the tutorials above)
- 6 4mm jump rings
- 20 gauge, half-hard, round wire - your choice of metal
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Bent nose or a second pair of pliers that are flat on the inside (such as chain nose)
- Wire cutters
*Beads: You can use any beads you like, but just keep in mind that with earrings you have to be careful of the weight so they don't pull at your ears.Step #1
First we'll make a bead dangle with the headpins and beads.Slide a bead on a headpin and then hold the headpin just above the bead in round nose pliers.Step #2
Wrap the headpin around the barrel of the pliers creating a loop.Step #3
The loop is not straight over the bead, so you'll need to straighten it. There are a few ways to do this.
I like to hold the loop in my chain nose pliers and while I wrap the loose wire around pull the loop up. (It's probably easier to understand in the video.)Step #4Complete the wraps and trim off any excess wire.Repeat for the other bead and set the bead dangles aside.Step #5Cut 4 pieces of wire to about 2 and 1/2" each. Make sure each end is flush cut.Step #6
Hold one wire in the middle of the wire with round nose pliers and then form a loop in the middle.Step #7
Now form the wire into a U shape. I put the loop back in the round nose pliers and form the U with my fingers, using pressure against the wire to form the curves.Take this opportunity to make sure the ends are even.Step #8
Now we'll form a loop on each end of the wire. We want the loop to be facing in.Hold the end of the wire in your round nose pliers. The wire should be at the top of the pliers but not poking through. It should be placed near the tip of your pliers.Twist your wrist away from you while wrapping the wire around the barrel of the pliers. Go as far as your wrist will allow, readjust and then complete the loop.Step #9
Complete a loop on the other side. Both loops should face in.Then repeat the process to make a total of 4 identical wire pieces.Step #11
Place the pieces together to make sure the all of the shapes are the same and the loops meet up and make adjustments if necessary.Step #12
Now we'll attach 2 pieces together. Open a jump ring, place 2 coordinating loops into the jump ring and close the jump ring. Repeat for the other side.The repeat for the second pair of wire pieces.To assistance with open and closing jump rings, see the video linked above.
Step #13
Attach a bead dangle to one loop using a jump ring. Repeat for the second earring.Step #14
Add earring wires and you have completed earrings!Additional resources:New to working with wire and maybe found this challenging? Check out my free Wire Workshop and make sure you sign up for my free 14 Day Intro to Jewelry Making eCourse (which also signs you up for my weekly newsletter!)You may also love my Wire Wrapping for Beginners eBook or print book if you’re just starting.If you make this project and share it on Instagram, use the hashtag #ECTTV and you can follow me here: @KimberlieKohlerOr you can post a photo on my Facebook page.