Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.   , Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. These earrings are fun and quick to make.
Murano glass wire heart earrings.
by Kylie Jones
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Beginner
These earrings are fun and quick to make. The wire heart shaped frame is formed from a single piece of wire and encloses a sweet, small Murano glass heart. The Swarovski crystals add color and sparkle. These earrings can be made as a matched pair or you can have some fun with different colors and styles.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 16.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $12.32
  • Gold Club Price: $9.24
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3mm Swarovski xillion bicone in Vitrail
  • Lesson Quantity: 14.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 14.00 each
8mm Murano glass heart in rubino gold
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
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Tools

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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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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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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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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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 2.5X2.5 Inches
G17-22
  • G17-22
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.97
  • Gold Club Price: $16.48
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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
  • G3-27
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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6 Inch Metal Ruler - in Inches And Centimeters
G7-7
  • G7-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Instructions
Step 1
I find it a lot easier to make a wire shape if I have a reference drawing that I can keep comparing my wire shape with. I find I can save a lot of time and wire by drawing different ideas and refining the shapes before I start with the wire.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Step 2
Cut a piece of wire about 8" (20cm) long. To begin use the nylon jaw pliers to completely smooth your piece of wire. Flush cut the end and make sure it is smooth. If you are working straight from a spool or coil of wire you need to add the Swarovski crystals before you start shaping the wire. Using your round nose pliers start a spiral by making a half circle at the very end of the wire then keep rotating the wire until it is about a 3/4 circle, now switch to flat nose pliers using the pliers to hold the beginning of the spiral and using your other hand to hold and coax the wire into a spiral shape. Holding the wire further away from the shape allows the wire to form the spiral more easily than holding it close. This spiral is about 2 complete rotations.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire heart earrings
Step 3
Continue to follow your pattern making the straight side. To make the V shape at the bottom of the heart hold the edge of the flat nose pliers right on the spot where you want the bend and bend the wire up against the pliers. Then place the pliers on the other side of the V to get a tighter angle. Add 7 Swarovski crystals pushing them down to the V.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Step 4
Use a mandrel or thick pen to shape the top of the other side of the heart shape. For the first earring bring the tail of the wire behind the spiral and for the 2nd earring if you want a mirror image bring the tail of the wire in front of the spiral.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Step 5
Using flat nose pliers hold the wire tail from the second side of the heart just under the level of the bottom of the spiral and bend the wire to the back of the pliers and completely up straight. Hold the mandrel or pen above the heart shape and take the wire over the mandrel and down again to from the top curve of the ear wire. While the ear wire is on the mandrel push the spiral side in towards the center of the heart and catch it around the other side of the heart to lock the shape together.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Step 6
Shape the back of the ear wire and trim the end. Buff the wire to remove any tool marks. You can hammer the shape on a steel block with a mallet or planishing hammer or put it in a tumbler to work harden the wire.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Step 7
Place the little glass heart on a headpin and make a simple loop. Thread this loop onto the spiral.
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Murano glass wire earrings
Step 8
Kylie Jones's Murano glass wire heart earrings.    - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, murano glass wire earrings