Welcome to Part 3 of the Bronzed Bridal Earrings Project for April 2019.

This month’s project is broken down into three actionable parts.

In Part 1, you made the Beaded Components and added the luscious Pearls.

In Part 2,  you made your own Balled Head Pins with warm and sultry Bronzed Jewelry wire and a soldering torch. Then we finished the Head pins using Sandpaper and Pro Polish Pads. 

Today, in Part 3, we will:

  • Form the ear wires from the finished Balled Head Pins
  • Make matching Jump Rings from the remaining Bronze wire 
  • Put all the components together to complete the project. 

If you are just joining in, you will want to start here for all the info. 

Project Outline

Part 3 Tools and Materials

If you need anything, you can use my Amazon Affiliate links above to help support The Alluring Bead Boutique. 

The Ear Wires

To insure that both findings come out identical, it is very important to line the balls and shafts of the head pins up as closely as possible. 

For me, it is so much easier to make perfectly matching ear wires using Multi-Step Looping pliers because you can make both at the same time.

 

The Loops

If you are using Round nose pliers, you will need to make a mark on the barrels at the 3 mm diameter spot for the earrings wires and the 5 mm spot for the jump rings. 

Make sure to lay the wire in the same place for each ear wire. 

You would lay the ball on the round nose pliers the same way as shown in the directions below.

 

  • The 3 mm barrel of the multi-step pliers is closest to me. 
  • Line up the balls and make sure the long part of the wires do not overlap.
  • Lay the balls of the head pins on the smallest barrel, farther away from you.
  • Using your thumb, push both wires back around the 3 mm barrel and all the way up, until the shaft of the wire is as close to the balls as possible but still straight as shown. 

The Curves

If you do not have Multi-step pliers, you will use the Sharpie pen to form the curve of the ear wire. 

I will be using the large barrel for this step and it is positioned closest to me. I face the loop away from the barrel I am using.

If you are going to use a Sharpie, you place the pen between you and the wire, with the loop slightly above the pen and facing away from you. 

  • Line the loops up and grasp the wires so that the loops face away from you.
  • Take your time to get them in place and make sure the long wires don’t overlap. 
  • Push the wires with your thumb back around the larger barrel or sharpie until the wires come 3/4 way around. 
  • Keep the findings lined up as you remove them from the pliers. 

The Angles

If you are going to use round nose pliers for this step, mark the wires where the loops and the shaft are equal and use the tip of the pliers to make the bend in each wire one at a time.  

  • Position the pliers so that the smallest barrel is closest to you. 
  • Grasp the wires so that the bottom of the barrels are lined up horizontally with the loops as shown.
  • Again, make sure the wires do not overlap and push them with your index finger back over the smallest barrel to form a 45 degree angle. 
  • Keep the findings lined up precisely and flush cut the wires about 1/8th inch down from the angle. 
  • The back or flush side of the cutters need to face the ear wire and the gully of the cutters face the waste side. 
Smooth the ends with the Sandpaper
Use the Pro Polish pad to shine and remove any dust.
Harden the Curve with Rawhide mallet on Bench block if needed

The Jump Rings

If you plan on using Round Nose pliers to make the jump rings, use the 5 mm mark and wrap each loop downward on the barrel. 

As you continue you the previous jump ring moves upward on the barrel and the wire wraps again at the mark. 

To make two jump rings you will need to make at least 2 and a half rotations around the barrel. 

No matter which pliers you are using, the end of the wire needs to be flush with the barrels and you should not be able to feel any wire sticking up. 

Cut the wire ends flush.
Grasp the wire between the middle barrels.
Push the wire around the 5 mm barrel as far as you can go.
Open the pliers and rotate, continue the rotations.
Complete 2 and half or 3 rotations, use the chain nose pliers to finish the wire if needed.
The flush cut end is to the right. position the cutters with the flush side to the left and snip.
Flush cut the right side of the remaining wire.
Turn the cutters and flush cut the remaining jump ring.

Smooth the cuts with a folded piece of the sandpaper if the jump rings do not close tightly. 

Now we are ready to assemble the earrings. 

Putting it all Together

Open a Jump Ring with the pliers.
Feed the ring through the 8/0 Rose Gold Seed Bead on the Back of the Pearl Component.
Add the Ear Wire Loop as shown.
Close the Jump Ring using the Friction method.

Rub the ends of the jump rings back and forth to create friction and stop when the ends snap together and are closed completely. 

Check the loops of the Ear wires from the front angle and use the flat nose pliers if needed to line them up with the shaft for a professional finish. 

I hope you enjoyed April’s monthly project here at The Alluring Bead Boutique.

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