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Wire Beaded Earrings
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How to Make Wire Wrapped Earrings

These wire wrapped earrings are SO PRETTY and surprisingly simple to make! Follow our detailed step-by-step tutorials to make your own pair of wire and bead earrings, perfectly for customized homemade gifts.
Active Time30 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Yield: 3 pairs of wire wrapped earrings
Author: Debbie Chapman
Cost: $5 per pair

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Find what you need:

  • Gather your supplies and materials.
    This shows what you'll need for all 3 pairs of earrings.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings Supplies

Make beaded wave earrings:

  • Cut a 6 inch piece of 16 gauge wire.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Use bail making pliers to create a small loop (or "bail") on the end of the wire.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Hold the wire at the 8mm section of the bail makers, just below the small loop you made. Wrap the wire around the pliers, creating a partial circle.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Grip the partial circle with the other side of the pliers, so the bail is on the outside of the pliers and the wire comes up through the middle.
    Now wrap the wire down around the same 8mm section. This should create another partial circle that goes in the opposite direction.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Repeat this 2 more times for a total of 4 curves
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Cut off any excess wire, leaving about 3/8 inch extra. Use the bail making pliers to create another small loop at the bottom.
    Curl this bail in the opposite direction from the top one.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Attach an earring hook to the top bail. You can use pliers to open up the loop so the hook slips on, and then close it tightly again.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Cut a 6 inch piece of 24 gauge wrapping wire.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Attach the thin wire by wrapping it around the bottom of the top bail several times.
    (Use needle nose pliers to help you pull it through.)
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Add an 8mm bead to the thin wire.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Let the bead fall down so it fits in the first curve. Wrap the wire around the top of the next curve several times to keep it in place.
    Use your pliers to pinch the wraps together neatly.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Repeat, adding 3 more beads. Fit 1 in each curve and secure them in place with a few wraps each time.
    Then wrap the wire below the last bead (above the bottom bail) and cut off the excess. Use pliers to pinch the wire in, so it doesn't stick out.
    Wire Wrapped Earrings
  • Repeat, making a second earring.
    Your beaded wave wire wrapped earrings are complete!
    Wire Wrapped Earrings

Make spiral bead earrings:

  • Cut an 8 inch piece of 16 gauge wire.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Wrap the wire around a pen, pencil, or thin dowel (about 3/8 inch wide) 5 times.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Stretch out the spiral a bit while the wire is still on the pen, so the coils are about 1/4 inch apart.
    Then remove the coil from the pen.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Use the smallest spot on the bail making pliers to create a small bail on both ends of the wire.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Add four 8mm beads onto a 40mm eye pin. Then use the bail makers to create a matching bail at the top, keeping the beads in place.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Use pliers to bend the top bail of the coil up so it's perpendicular to the spiral.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Slide the beaded pin down through the middle of the coil. Push it down until the eye goes through the bottom bail.
    Then use your pliers to push the top bail back down, over the top eye of the pin.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Open the top eye of the pin enough so you can attach an earring hook. Then use pliers to close it tightly again.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Connect a charm to the bottom eye in the same way.
    Wire Wrap Earrings
  • Repeat, making a second earring.
    Your spiral wire wrap earrings are complete!
    Wire Wrap Earrings

Make looped bead earrings:

  • Cut a 6 inch piece of 16 gauge wire.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Use the smallest part of the bail making pliers to create a loop (bail) on one end of the wire.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Use the 8mm section of the bail makers to create a circle directly under the small bail.
    To create a full circle the wire should overlap on one side, with the circle finishing in the center.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Repeat, making 2 more circles, each one below the last, with the circles starting and ending in the center.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Trim off any excess wire, leaving about 3/8 inch. Make another small bail at the bottom of the earring.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Use pliers to open up the top bail just enough to attach an earring hook. Then close it again so the hook can't fall off.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Cut a 6 inch piece of 24 gauge wire.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Connect the wire to the earring by wrapping it around the first bail a few times. Then wrap it around the top of the first circle so it points towards the bottom of the earring.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Add a 10mm bead to the wire. Set the bead on top of the first circle. Then wrap the wire through the second circle and back up around the bottom of the circle to keep the bead in place.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Repeat, adding 2 more beads in the same way.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Secure the bottom of the wire by wrapping it around the bottom bail. Cut off any excess wire.
    Wire and Bead Earrings
  • Repeat, making a second earring.
    Your looped wire and bead earrings are complete!
    Wire and Bead Earrings

Video

Notes

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