Caribbean Breeze Earrings

This free earring project features artisan made hammered 18-gauge bronze wire components with amazonite briolettes from Rings & Things.

As seen in the 2011 Spring Supplement
Created by: Tiffany White

Suggested Materials::
12" #47-800-18 18-gauge round wire, bronze
24" #47-800-22 22-gauge round wire, bronze
2 each #21-000-007-09 16x12x7mm puffed gemstone briolettes, amazonite

Tools and Supplies::
round-nosed pliers (#69-269-02)
chain-nose pliers (#69-273-03)
side cutters (#69-269-05)
chasing hammer (#69-126)
rubber bench block (#69-118)
0000 steel wool (from hardware supplier)

Designer Tips: When making wire jewelry projects, it is always helpful to have more wire than is needed, as it is difficult to get your design perfect on the first attempt.

To make this design:
1. Cut the 18-gauge bronze wire into two 3" pieces (for the ear wires) and two 4" pieces (for the "swirl" designs).
2. Use round-nose pliers to mold the wire into a swirl design.
3. Using the hammer and rubber block, flatten out the "swirl" design and the earring wires.

To wrap the briolettes, cut the 22-gauge wire into two 6" pieces.
4. Make a 90-degree bend in the wire at about 1.5".
5. String the briolette through the wire until you reach the bend, and then bring both pieces of wire together at the top of the briolette.
6. Using your chain-nose pliers, pinch two wires together. Wrap the longer wire around the shorter wire and then continue to wrap the longer wire down the length of the briolette.
7. After you have wrapped the wire about ½" down the briolette, pull the wire neatly across the briolette, over your previous wrapping, and securing it at the top.
8. Use the short length of wire to create a loop at the top. Secure by wrapping around a few times. Clip both pieces of wire as flush as possible using side cutters.
9. Use either round-nose pliers or chain-nose pliers to tuck in any excess wire.
10. Assemble the wrapped briolette, "swirl" design, and earring wires using chain-nose pliers and small jump rings made from excess
18-gauge wire.
11. If desired, use steel wool to smooth out design.

Check out Tiffany's "How to Wire-Wrap a Briollette" tutorial our April 14, 2011 blog post.

For other earring ideas using wire, check out The Earring Style Book by Stephanie A. Wells (#62-620).

For additional details about techniques used in this design, see:
Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet

To view our jewelry-making technique sheets (PDF files), you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it free here.

View more free jewelry design ideas, peruse our complete list of free jewelry-making technique sheets, or search our design gallery. Post questions on the Rings & Things Discussion Forum. Don't be shy! If you're wondering, so is someone else!

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