Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I took out several of my heart shaped beads to see what designs I could create for that special day.
Love Drop Earrings
by Sonja Kiser
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I took out several of my heart shaped beads to see what designs I could create for that special day. I had purchased several of these crystal heart beads, drilled from front to back. (Not realizing at that time, just how difficult it would be to make use of these beads.) My goal then became to create a design, using these beads. This "Love Drops" earring pattern is the culmination of this effort. I hope you enjoy making this design as much as I enjoyed creating it. Feel free to use your own imagination to alter the pattern, by changing the colors, sizes and/or styles of the beads.

Materials

22 Gauge Square Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-22SQH
  • Lesson Quantity: 13.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $11.01
  • Gold Club Price: $8.26
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Crystal Hearts, 10mm drilled from front to back
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Sterling Silver Beads Bright 2mm - Pack of 25
K9-139
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.32
  • Gold Club Price: $1.74
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Sterling Silver Beads Bright 2.5mm - Pack of 25
K9-138
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.12
  • Gold Club Price: $1.59
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Sterling Silver Beads Bright 3mm - Pack of 25
K9-140
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $3.24
  • Gold Club Price: $2.43
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4mm Garnet 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 12
A13-82C
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.57
  • Gold Club Price: $2.68
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Sterling Silver Bead Heart 5mm - Pack of 1
K9-124
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.04
  • Gold Club Price: $1.53
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Tools

3.6 Volt Automatic Wire Twister (Cordless Screwdriver)
G5-15
  • G5-15
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $42.97
  • Gold Club Price: $32.23
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Instructions
Step 1
Use the 22-gauge wire to straighten, clean and then cut one 12 ½" piece. Twist the entire length and then cut it in half, making two 6" pieces. Mark both wires at their center. One wire at a time, place the center mark on the largest part of the round nose pliers. Bend the wire around the pliers, creating a U shape. Repeat procedure on the other wire.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 2
Thread a 10 mm crystal heart bead onto each U shaped wire.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 3
Mark both wires of each component, at 1 ¼" above the heart bead.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 4
On one component, add the beads in the following order: three 2mm silver, two 3mm silver, two 3mm silver, and one 3mm crystal. On the opposite wire of the same component, put one 3mm silver. Repeat on the second component.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 5
Bend front wire (the one with the most beads) at the 1 ¼" mark, to the right, making a 90° angle. Bend same wire on the second component to the left.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 6
Using the corner of each angle just created, begin a wrapped loop (turning the round nose pliers to keyhole the loop).
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 7
Finish the wrapped loop by using the opposite wire to make the binding. Wrap 3 times and end with the wrap wire extended to the front. Trim this extended wire to 1/2", rosette and place it over the binding just made. Repeat same procedure on second component, in the opposite direction.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 8
While holding the wraps with flat nose pliers, use your fingers to pull the center wire out and to the right, creating a 90 degree angle. Repeat using the second component pulling the wire to the left instead of the right.
Trim each of these center wires to 1". Using the round nose pliers (about midway from the point) curve each extended wire around and into the inside, and out of the opposite side, of the component. Repeat on second component going in the opposite direction from the first component.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 9
On each earring, from the end of each extended wire, measure 3/8" up and mark. Using flat-nose pliers at this mark, bend each wire downward, forming a 90° angle.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 10
Put a small, vertically drilled, sterling silver heart bead onto this wire, making a small loop at the bottom of the bead to hold it in place. Repeat same procedure on the second component.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 11
If needed, use flat nose pliers to reposition the wire so the silver heart bead is turned toward the inside of the component. Repeat on the second component if necessary. Attach ear wires.
Sonja Kiser's Love Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,