WIRE WRAPPED BEADED EARRINGS/EAR STUDS
(Filed under "Earring" category)
This is the tutorial that I promised as a follow-up from my previous free tutorial ~ Wire Wrapped Beaded Adjustable Ring (filed under "Ring" category)
~ Tools & Materials ~
20g anti-tarnish silver artistic wire (for frame)
(or other wire of your choice)
28g anti-tarnish silver artistic wire (for wrapping)
2 x 8mm beads of your choice
Some seed beads or metal beads of your choice
2 pcs of ear nuts
Wire Cutter
Flat Nose/Round Nose Plier/
Jump ring mandrel, pen or ring mandrel (0.8mm - 0.9mm in diameter)
Ruler/Hammer/Metal Block/Sharpie marker/file
Alrite, if you're ready let's begin .......
Step 1
Working from the spool of 20g wire, coil the wire around the jump ring mandrel that has a diameter of 0.8mm (Remember, we're using 8mm beads. If you use 6mm beads, then choose 0.6mm diameter on the mandrel)
Options for Step 1
If you do not have jump ring mandrel, try the ring mandrel. Find the smallest point on ring mandrel (usually at the tip) and bring wire to coil around it. Slowly take the coil off and place 8mm beads to test for fit (like in Step 6). Wire can be a bit "springy". So, if the fit is not right, you can always reinsert the coil back onto the mandrel and slide along the mandrel to enlarge or until you get the right fit.
Another option is to use a pen with a slightly broader/bigger in diameter.
Step 2
Measure & cut one end of the wire to about 1.5cm
(this will be the ear post)
If you prefer a shorter ear post, you may cut it to about 1.2cm.
Step 3
Mark the centre of the round frame with the Sharpie marker.
Then, cut the other end of the wire to about 0.5cm in length
from the marked spot.
Re-shape frame by putting it back
onto the jump ring maker.
Step 4
At the marked spot, use the chain nose plier
to bend the ear post 90 degree outwards.
Step 5
Hammer the round frame slightly.
By hammering, the frame will be enlarged by 0.2~0.3mm.
Adjust the frame by putting it back to the jump ring maker
to get a nice round shape.
Step 6
Check to see if the 8mm bead fits into the round frame. There should be a little space for the 28g wire to go through when we do the coiling.
If there is insufficient space in between the frame and the bead, re-shape the frame by putting it on the 0.9mm jump ring maker and adjust accordingly.
Step 7
Now, cut a piece of 28g wire measuring 15" long.
Begin wrapping the frame thrice at the left side of the ear post, leaving about 1" of the 28g wire. Wrap towards the ear post, go behind and under the ear post towards the right side of the frame. Keep on wrapping the overlapping part.
Go on .... keep on wrapping the whole frame. I can wait. =)
Wrap it as neat as possible.
Half way through! Carry on .......
Step 8
Wrap until the wire meets up with the starting point. Trim the shorter wire with the wire cutter and press down neatly with chain nose plier.
DO NOT cut the long wire yet as we need it to attach the 8mm bead
to the frame.
Step 9
Take the 8mm bead and insert it into the 28g wire
so that we can attach it to the frame.
Step 10
Bring the wire together with the 8mm bead,
from the top to behind the frame, then down to the bottom.
Wrap the 28g wire a few times around the bottom frame. Once the bead is secured, trim the wire and press it down neatly with chain nose plier.
This is how it looks after the wire wrapping.
Let's go on to the next step.
Step 11
Now, cut a new length of 28g wire, measuring 15" long. Wrap the wire like you first wrapped the frame. Make sure that the position of the wire in on top of the frame. Leave the short wire for the moment. You can trim it off once you've completed attaching the seed beads
Step 12
Inserting the seed beads. As you can see from here, I inserted 4 beads and wrap it around the frame.
The wire with the seed beads comes out from the space
between the frame and the 8mm bead. Pull slowly so that the seed beads rest closely against the frame.
Wrap it close to each other and as neatly as possible.
Go on wrapping until you reach the other end.
There you go ... the wrapping is completed!
Wrap the remaining 28g wire around the frame once and go over the ear post to wrap it 3 - 4 times to complete the wrapping.
(Note: Don't forget to trim the shorter wire and press down neatly with chain nose plier)
Trim the wire and press down with chain nose plier.
Smoothen the ends of the ear post with a file (I've used a finger nail file here)
Back view.
You may insert the ear nut now.
Front view.
Repeat the same steps for the other side.
Voila! A new pair of wire wrapped beaded earrings/ear studs
ready to be worn.
Note: If you want to turn it into a dangle, just bend up the ear post, cut it slightly shorter and make a small loop then attach to ear wires.
(Above photographs taken with Nokia N97)
OK, I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions pertaining to this tutorial, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at emilytanmeisin@yahoo.com. Please do share pictures of the earrings/rings that you have made.
HAPPY CRAFTING!
