lets make some earrings! {part one}

making your own earrings is probably the easiest and most simple way to start making your own jewelry. you only need a few tools to get started and you can pick most of them up at your local craft store. some of the tools i use are household items such as a knife, a pen, and a marker... but you'd never know by looking at the finished product.

this is a two part tutorial starting with how to make your own handmade ear wires. here's what you need to get started:)

a snipper tool, a flat nosed pliers, a round nose pliers, 20 gauge wire (i'm using sterling silver), a fine file, a ball peen hammer, a steel block, and a butter knife.

step 1. cut two pieces of wire the same length (i believe mine is about 3.5 inches) and file one end so it's flat. position the flat end into your round nose pliers making sure to have the wire flush with the edge of the pliers.

step 2. curl the wire away from you forming a circle and close the circle shut with your flat nosed pliers.

step 3. position your circle on your steel block and using the flat end of your hammer, lightly tap the circle with the edge of your hammer in a diagonal motion until you get a look you're happy with. this is also a step you can bypass if you don't have a hammer or steel block. the hammering just gives the ear wires a more artisan look.

step 4. again using your flat nosed pliers, close your circles shut. the hammering tends to pry them open.

step 5. line up the circles of your ear wires so they're flush with one another. with your thumb, hold the ear wires in place against your knife and bend them over the top of the knife. it's up to you where you want the bend to be, but i usually try to eyeball it somewhere around ⅓ to ½ the way down depending on the length of the wire.

step 6. once again, line up your ear wires so they're even and cut off any excess wire on the back. file the end flat and then round them out so they're not jagged or sharp. polish your finished ear wires with a polishing cloth, which you can pick up at your local craft store or jewelry counter.

there you have it... a handcrafted pair of artisan ear wires. stay tuned for part two of this tutorial... finishing your earrings!