Earrings

About

You Will Need (2 things)

Steps (11 steps, 41 minutes)

1. 1

   Gather your materials. I used 18 gauge gold filled wire for these earrings but you can use any wire that you desire. The 18 gauge is a little thicker than 20g but I like it because it keeps it shape better. I also have wire cutters and needle nose pliers, assorted beads, a pen or anything round and a nail buffer block.

2. 2

   Using your wire cutters cut the wire into equal lengths. I don't measure I just cut one then match the wire to size and cut the second wire. If you want to make, for example, 1 inch long earrings, measure the wire and cut at 3 inches long. The extra wire is what twirls around the earrings.

3. 3

   File down all ends of the wire to get any rough edges off. This way they can be inserted into your ear with no pain. Keep filing until they feel smooth on your fingers. You can also use fine sandpaper.

4. 4

   Take the needle nose pliers and insert the wire into the very bottom of the pincher end. Now squeeze really hard. This will form a small crimped spot so the beads wont fall off. Repeat for the other wire. Only pinch one end of each wire.

5. 5

   This is what the end of the wires will look like after crimping. Don't wory if they are not exactly the same. Just try to keep them as close as you can. If you have beads that slip over the ends you can form a small loop in the wire to hold them on.

6. 6

   Add whatever you heart desires in beads. These are 5mm glass beads. But you can put whatever you like on.

7. 7

   Straighten the wire. Now using the needle nose pliers place them at the length you want your earrings. Holding the pliers securely bend the wire to 90 degrees.

8. 8

   Using the pen hold the earring at the top of the bend and twist around the pen. Clockwise for one earring and counter clockwise for the other.

9. 9

   The reason you need to wrap one clockwise and the other counter clockwise is because the earrings are left and right. If you put them in wrong, they wont hang right.

10. 10

    Now just start to move the wires from the top towards the bottom. You can have tight twirls or loose twirls. The can be short or long. I have made them before that only have one bead and the twirls hang longer than the bead. These earrings show which is left and which is right.

11. 11

    To put the earrings in simply start at the end and slowly twist them into your ears. Enjoy!