By: Miriam Tribe
No need to shell out the cash on expensive designer accessories when you can make them yourself. These wire and paper bead Anthro knockoff earrings look even better than the originals (and certainly cost a lot less). Make trendy jewelry that looks fit for a boutique window with this tutorial.
Materials:
some pretty paper beads (in an array of colors and various sizes)
an anvil (or another hard surface)
16 gauge gold jewelry wire (about 1 foot)
22 gauge gold jewelry wire (about 2 yards)
gold jump rings
closed earrings or ear wires
gold beads
needle nose pliers/metal cutters (or round nose pliers if you have them)
a hammer
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Out of respect for the original designer, I ask that this tutorial ONLY BE USED FOR
PERSONAL USE and that it not be used to make items for commercial sales, even on a small scale.
Instructions:
1.) Cut 6 inches of the 16 gauge gold wire and pound flat with a hammer and anvil (or whatever hard surface you are using).
2.) Measure 2 ¼ inches from either end and mark with a washable marker.
3.) Bend at marked points with your fingers to make a nice straight triangle.
4.) With your pliers, make small loops on both ends (facing back).
5.) Now with the 22 gauge wire, wrap around one side near the top several times until secure. Use your pliers to tighten and flatten the edge down against the frame.
6.) String one small paper bead on, and then wrap around several times on opposite side of frame. If your first coil wrapped over the frame, wrap your second coil under, in order to weave the wire from front to back and vice versa.
7.) Continue threading paper and gold beads back and forth through the triangle frame, wrapping several times between rows. Just throw in a gold bead when you feel like it. Gauge the size of beads and number of gold ones with the space you have between the frame. You want the beads to fill the space, but not to fit tightly. Avoid weaving the rows too closely together as well.
8.) When you reach the bottom, wrap around the bottom corner several times to secure; then cut the wire and tighten/flatten against the frame with your pliers. You don’t want any pokies!
9.) Attach jump rings to both loops, and then one more (I used a slightly larger one) to connect the first two. Attach a closed earring to the top jump ring.
