Don’t you just love how a little bit of wire can totally transform a couple of simple beads?

(Click on the photos for a closer look.)

These faceted blue teardrop beads are quite pretty all on their own, but with messy wraps and a hammered wire shape they become even more interesting.

If you use silver or copper wire you could patina it with liver of sulfur and then use pro-polish pads to shine up the high spots. Ooooo, the possibilities. 🙂

So, what beads do you have that could use some dressing up?

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch Teardrop & Hammered Wire Earrings Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Materials:

• 2 ear wires
• 2 10mm x 15mm top drilled teardrop beads
• 2 4-inch pieces 20 gauge wire
• 2 18-inch pieces 26 gauge wire

Tools:

• chasing hammer
• bench block or Mini Anvil
• wire cutters
• round nose pliers
• chain nose pliers
• cup burr

1. Use cup burr to smooth all ends of 20 gauge wire.
2. Grasp one end of 20 gauge wire with round nose pliers and make a small loop. Use chain nose pliers to hold loop and continue to shape wire into a loose spiral that is the same width as widest part of teardrop bead.
3. Use round nose pliers to make a loop on other end of wire, facing in the opposite direction. Shape into a spiral until it meets first spiral.
4. Place wire shape on bench block or anvil and hammer until evenly flattened. Use rounded end of hammer to give texture on both sides.
5. Slide 26 gauge wire through hole of a teardrop bead, leaving one inch sticking out one side. Bend both wire ends up at 90-degree angle to hole of bead. Bend wires over top of bead, making a triangle shape. Bend remaining ends of wire up, perpendicular to bead hole.
6. Bend both wires at 90° angle. Use round nose pliers to make a loop with these wires. Wrap remaining wire around bends and down to cover bead hole. This can be done with neat, tight wraps, or in “messy wraps.”
7. Slide loops of wrapped teardrop onto larger hammered spiral so it hangs from outer ring of spiral. Use chain nose pliers to open loop of ear wire and attach to top of hammered shape. Close ear wire securely.
8. Repeat all steps for second earring.

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