Easy Peasy Last Minute Gift or Treat for Yourself, Spiral Christmas Tree Earrings tutorial

Step 1

 Cut 4 inches of wire.

Make a loop at one end of the wire using your round nose pliers. 

Step 2

Using your nylon pliers,

begin to make a flat spiral with the remaining wire.

Step 3

Your wire should look like this.

Optional step at this point, 

add another loop at the end.

If you would like to add seed beads or crystals at the end, do not make a loop here.

Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 so that you have two identical spirals.

Step 4

Using a pointed tool like a knitting needle or pencil,

push the center of the spiral so that the spirals separate and become tree like .

Repeat with the other spiral.

At this point, if you did not add a loop at the end, add seed beads or crystals.

If you forgot like I did, unbend the loop, and then add your beads!

You can also add dangles from the little loop at the end.

Add ear wires.

Ta-da!

You have some Xmas tree earrings.

Isn't that fun?

Merry Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Easy Peasy Wire Earrings with Posts Tutorial

Generally, when I wear earrings, I prefer to wear earrings that hang on wires.

Sometimes, the design of an earring doesn't lend itself to a wire.

Here's an example.

These earrings work well with posts instead of wires.

Now here's how you make them.

I can make a pair in about 10 minutes after I organize my supplies.

You need these tools:  a ruler, wire cutters, round nose pliers, and (not shown) a file or an emery board to smooth the edges.

I used both 18 gauge wire to make the earrings.  I also used 20 gauge wire, but I liked the 18 gauge better.

 

 Cut 2 pieces of wire 4 1/4 inches long.

File the ends smooth and make one loop at the end of each wire.

Line your round nose pliers next to the wire. 

Bend the wire up at this point on each wire.

This is what your wire should look like.

Again, line your round nose pliers up next to the wire.

Make a bend in each wire.

This is what your wire should look like.  Continue lining up the round nose pliers next to the last bend.

Make another bend.

The following pictures are what your wire should look like as you continue to make bends.

Keep bending that wire!

When your wire looks like this, you stop bending.

Make sure your last bends in the wire are the same length.  If not trim the wire and smooth with your file.

Line up your round nose pliers with the first bend and bend the end of the wire up.

This is what your earrings look like at this point.

Bend the wires up.

Your earrings are finished!!!!

Add earring backs, and you are done!

See, didn't I tell you, they were easy?

Enjoy your new earrings!!!

Easy Peasy Tutorial - Making Earrings from Scratch Tutorial

I made these earrings in about 15 minutes while I was talking to my cousin in Albuquerque on the phone.

She didn't understand the reason I had to pound while I was talking to her!

All right,

here's what you do!

I used 18 gauge copper wire.

Before you do anything else, check to see if the beads you have chosen to use will fit this wire.

If you go any smaller in the wire, you won't be able to form a paddle at the bottom or top.

The beads I made were made on 1/16" mandrels.

So,

cut 1.5 inches of 18 gauge copper wire, art wire, brass wire, or silver wire.

Using a hammer and bench block, hammer one end of each wire until a paddle forms.  Be careful not to pound too much or the wire will become too thin and break off.

Be sure to file the ends smooth.  I use an emery board.  File in a forward direction only.

Add the beads to make sure they won't fall through the end.  If the beads fall through, take the beads off the wire, and hammer them until there is more flare in the wire.

Hammer the top ends of the wire so that they flare out too.

Make a loop at the top of the wire.

Wait!!!  Screech!!!!  Put on the brakes!!!  Don't make the same mistake I did.  I had to go back to step one here because I forgot to add the crystals.

Screech!  Brakes!  Hold on!

Add the crystals to the wire, then you pound the top end of the wire and make a loop at the top of the wire.

Add the ear wires of your choice!

Easy Peasy.

See the photo at the top of the page!

These make great gifts or use them for yourself.

Check out my Etsy store for beads that you can use.

If the beads you choose are not as big as the ones shown here, all you have to do is to adjust the length of wire you use.

It's just a goo idea to start with 1.5 inches of wire.

Thanks!

I hope you use and enjoy this tutorial!!