I am currently doing my annual Use Your Leftovers challenge at Earrings Everyday (join me! It’s fun!) where I use whatever leftover beads and components are in reach. So I thought I would whip up a quick pair from these leftovers that happen to be strewn on my bead table.
CRAFTASTROPHE! The sorry state of my bead table….one corner of it! (I am totally dying of embarrassment!)
I first spotted some Vintaj leaves next to some enameled leaves from Gardanne. Now I could just simply layer one on top of the other, but that wouldn’t be too challenging. I decided the brass leaves needed a bit more…flair.
So I hopped over to my hammering station and pulled out a screwdriver to add some lines to the leaves. I kept the lines going in the same downward direction, overlapping them a bit.
After I buffed them with the Vintaj reliefing block to bring out the highlights. But they were still a bit too flat. So I took my chain nose pliers, holding the edge of the leaf, giving it a slight twist, back and forth. That makes the edges crinkle just a bit.
See the difference?
Add a jump ring or two and then the kidney shaped ear wires. But they still looked too simple. So I had to keep going.
I decided to embellish the ear wires to kick the flair factor up a notch. I don’t often have time to make my own ear wires (if you do, then that is awesome!), but the ones that you can get commercially are typically a bit…um….boring. I like to liven them up with a little bit of wire and some beads.
Pinch the little loop of the ear wire together just a bit. Then take about 3″ of wire and start wrapping to secure the loop. Continue wrapping up the front of the ear wire, adding a glass E-bead in between the wraps.
To embellish…or not to embellish?
What do you think…plain or embellished ear wire?
I agree. 😉 Embellished it is! Can you believe that something so lovely was made from the flotsam and jetsam of my studio craftastrophe?! Now these are ready to pop in the mail to my best friend Kari for her 50th birthday. Hooray!
Linda Landig
December 11, 2017 at 3:42 pmGorgeous earrings! – We have twin studios!
Sarajo Wentling
December 11, 2017 at 6:13 pmOh, I adore these! What a fun idea for Anne’s tiny leaves!
Ann Schroeder
December 11, 2017 at 8:43 pmErin, these are fabulous! Thanks for all the great tips!
Loralee Kolton
December 12, 2017 at 1:13 amOh, Erin, I loved the metalworking tips, thank you! I never thought of using a screwdriver for adding texture! Beautiful design, and perfect with those earwires! Thanks also for the shot of your work bench, ..lol . Love it!! I keep thinking that those dangling strands of beads on the rod wouldn’t last more than an hour with my kitties…..too bad, that’s pretty brilliant!
Kathy Lindemer
December 12, 2017 at 8:52 amThanks for the tips on kicking the earrings up a notch. They are beauties. I have to say my beading table is a slight bit neater than yours–less layers.
Divya
December 12, 2017 at 9:29 amI love crinkling my metal components too. It makes them look 3D – essentially makes them pop