Designer Stick Earrings Remodel

by Judy Larson

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Cutting, Butane Torch Techniques, Finishing
Skill Level: Beginner

As part of a New Year's Resolution a couple years ago, several pieces of jewelry were chosen for a remodel. If they were not worn for a year, they were on the chopping block. Taking photos of the original pieces never crossed my mind- they were just thrown in a box in my workroom and promptly forgotten.....until it was time to do a deep cleaning of the workroom.

These were originally hoops with an incorporated attached French hook ear wire. As a bonus, because these earrings use so little metal, they could probably be made with what is found in your scrap box. They would be so pretty with a strip of gold, brass, or copper down the middle.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 3 Inches
Price: $123.97
Gold Club Price: $92.98

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24 Gauge Dead Soft Sterling Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H8-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 6.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $38.09
Gold Club Price: $28.57

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22 Gauge Half Round Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-22HRD

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $1.00
Gold Club Price: $0.75

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Earring findings-Domed Stud With Drop Loop

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

Sterling silver earring finding - check our selection

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Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Tools

Premium Jump Ring Mandrels - Set of 2

G7-50

G7-50
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Xuron Sheer - Non Serrated

SHR-691.81

SHR-691.81
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks

DAP-500.30

DAP-500.30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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10 Piece Diamond Needle Files - 140mm X 3mm

G14-8

G14-8
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.57
Gold Club Price: $10.18

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WET/DRY PAPER 9 X 11 ASST- 20PC- 2EA GRIT 180-3000

ABR-500.90

ABR-500.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400

ABR-600.90

ABR-600.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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WireJewelry Ultra Pro Micro Abrasive Polishing Pads, 20 pack

G9-5-20PK

G9-5-20PK
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.95
Gold Club Price: $6.71

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Liver of Sulphur Gel, 1 Ounce Bottle

SOL-610.01

SOL-610.01
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

Out of Stock

Fire Brick

SOL-485.00

SOL-485.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.95
Gold Club Price: $11.96

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Aqui Flux, 1/2 Pint Spray Bottle

SOL-932.03

SOL-932.03
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.95
Gold Club Price: $5.21

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Cool Cup

SOL-700.00

SOL-700.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Premium Soldering Pick with Shield

SPK-777.00

SPK-777.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $23.95
Gold Club Price: $17.96

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Cross Lock Tweezers Straight

TWZ-740.00

TWZ-740.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.80
Gold Club Price: $4.35

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Copper Pickling Tweezers, Curved, Reinforced, 8-1/2 Inches

TWZ-959.00

TWZ-959.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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Butane Canister 8 Ounces

GAS-1-1PK

GAS-1-1PK
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

Out of Stock

Handy Flame Butane Torch

SOL-315.00

SOL-315.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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Sparex Number 2 Pickling Compound

SOL-802.10

SOL-802.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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Two-Hole Metal Punch

PUN-400.00

PUN-400.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $28.97
Gold Club Price: $21.73

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ultra fine retractable Sharpie

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5

G15-20

G15-20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $170.72
Gold Club Price: $128.04

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12x12 Inch Rubber Mat

MAT-500.00

MAT-500.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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WireJewelry Pro-Series Double Barrel Tumbler, Jewelry and Metal Polishing Kit, Includes 2 Pounds of Jewelers Mix Shot and 8 Ounces of Shinebrite Burnishing Compound

G25-2-KIT2SS

G25-2-KIT2SS
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $293.27
Gold Club Price: $219.95

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Optional Tools

Deluxe Soldering Kit

G15-5

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $116.97
Gold Club Price: $87.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Pro Tip: Because these earrings use so little metal, they could likely be made from materials in your scrap box and would look stunning with a strip of gold, brass, or copper running down the middle.

Step 2

When a remodel begins, unless I know exactly what I want to do, I don't trim anything off so the long ear wire sections were left attached, and the sketch roughly shows what the earrings originally looked like (as seen in the first photo).

Step 3

The two earrings to be remodeled were originally flat, uninteresting long pieces found in my "Remodel" box, and one of them was slightly wavy even after being annealed and flattened, it remained a bit wavy (top piece in the second photo).

Step 4

The finished drops are 21⁄4" long. The bottom end is 3/8" wide and the top is approximately 3/16" wide.

The original templates were in my remodel box with the piece of painters tape stuck to the paper-no clue why that was there-third photo.

Scale the pieces to the desired size and length, glue the shapes onto 24-gauge Argentium sheet, cut them out, then file and refine the edges.

Step 5

Because the wavy section was noticeable, it needed to be disguised, so I used several longer textured silver pieces from my scrap box.

The length of my scrap determined the finished length of the earring drops after adding more texture to the scrap pieces with a Mini TruStrike Sharp Designer Hammer, straight 2.5mm wide strips were cut making sure both strips were the same length to simplify placement in Step 5.

Step 6

Lightly sand and clean the top of the earring drops and the underside of the textured strips to prepare them for soldering.

Step 7

To make it easier to center the textured strips, a line drawn down the center of the earring drop with an ultra-fine point retractable sharpie might help.

Step 8

Place a narrow line of medium paste solder on the back of the narrow strip, or alternatively, on the line drawn in Step 4.

Position the strip textured side up, centered along the length of the earring drop at this point, I knew the wire tails needed to be cut off.

Step 9

Place the pieces on a soldering block and, using a butane torch attached to a butane canister, heat one piece at a time until the solder flows, then immediately remove the heat.

Immediately remove the heat and allow the pieces to cool before continuing.

Step 10

When remodeling, I usually wing it and hope the piece "speaks to me" but these earrings didn't speak up when they should have.

The jump rings should have been added when soldering the narrow strips to the earring drops, but it's okay to use medium paste solder again to attach them later.

The size of the jump rings here, 22-gauge, 2.5mm ID Argentium rings is determined by the width of the earring where they will be placed, and the rings should match that width.

Step 11

Trim off the excess metal strip and the earring sheet metal above the jump ring, then file and refine the edges of the earring finally, use a hole punch to make a hole in the center of the jump ring.

Step 12

Tumble the earrings for several hours.

Step 13

Bright silver, especially bright white Argentium silver, can make textured details hard to see, so patina the pieces to highlight all your hard work.

Removing excess patina with fine sanding pads or 0000 steel wool can create a satin finish, and to restore more shine, the pieces can be tumbled again for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 14

Attach the earring drops to earring findings since these long drops will swing and may pull slightly on the piercing, stud earrings with a hanging loop are a good alternative to French hooks.

Step 15

The wire trimmed off was twisted to work-harden it since it was annealed, then trimmed to length to make a pair of long French Hook ear wires.

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!