Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop. Perfect for the holidays or when you need a little zhoosh, these earrings are fun and pretty quick to make.
Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings
by Kristal Wick
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Lashing, Making Loops
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Perfect for the holidays or when you need a little zhoosh, these earrings are fun and pretty quick to make. The tricky part is beginning the wire lashing, but once you get going, you'll be done in no time. I used the ring size memory wire but you could use the bracelet size memory wire for super-sized earrings or a bracelet. The same technique applies. I also found using the cushion clamp and 3rd hand clamp (or vise) much easier to get started on the wire lashing. Everybody needs a 3rd hand when wire wrapping wire!

Materials

Sterling Silver Earwires 21mm w/ 1.5mm Bead - Pack of 2
K19-50
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.40
  • Gold Club Price: $1.80
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22 Gauge Ring Memory Wire Silver Finish - Approximately 75 Coils
H14-4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.00
  • Gold Club Price: $4.50
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26 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-26H
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.60
  • Gold Club Price: $0.45
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Silver Filled Jump Rings Open (.025) 22ga (OD) 4mm (ID) 2.55mm - Pack of 25
S11-14
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.74
  • Gold Club Price: $1.31
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Sterling Silver Chain (Oxidized) Flat Cable 1.3mm - 10 Feet
C8-134U
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $22.80
  • Gold Club Price: $17.10
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6mm Crystal Aurore Boreale 5000 Round Swarovski Beads - Pack of 10
A13-75B
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.97
  • Gold Club Price: $3.73
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Silver Filled Eyepins 24GA 1.5 inch - Pack of 10
S8-16
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.56
  • Gold Club Price: $1.17
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1mm cup chain
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 6.00 each
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Tools

Memory Wire Cutters - Pack of 1
G2-36
  • G2-36
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.38
  • Gold Club Price: $7.78
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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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3rd Hand Clamp with 4.5 Inch Tweezer
SOL-524.00
  • SOL-524.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.90
  • Gold Club Price: $12.68
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Wire Jewelry Cushion Clamp - Pack of 1
G10-1
  • G10-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.96
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1 1/2 Inch Mini Fixed Table Vise
G10-20
  • G10-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.27
  • Gold Club Price: $6.95
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Instructions
Step 1
Cut 2 pieces of memory wire using the memory wire cutter. Make sure there is ½ inch overlap.

NOTE: Use only a memory wire cutter to cut memory wire. You will ruin any other type of cutter!

Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 2
Using round-nose pliers, make loops at each end of the wire.
Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 3
Insert your wire earring in the cushion clamp. Attach the clamp to the 3rd hand or a vise for stability and ease in starting your wire lashing. Later you can remove it from the clamp or keep it clamped for ease of use. Attach the fine wire by wrapping a few times around the hoop near one of the little loops.
Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 4
Trim wire end. Measure out how much cup chain you think you'll need. I used 3.5" for the ring size memory wire. Hold the cup chain end on top of the earring and wrap the wire around the earring and gap between the first and second cup 1.5 times.
Pro Tip: You can position the cup chain to face the front of the earring (which is what I did in this DIY) and you will have an obvious earring front and back. Or the cup chain can be positioned around the earring wire outside of the earring facing out.
Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 5
Continue lashing until you reach the other earring end. Trim off any extra cup chain and make four final wraps.

Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 6
Here is what the back side of your earring should look like.

Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 7
Make your crystal dangles by using a head pin and making a simple loop at the top of your crystal. Cut appropriate length of chain (I used an inch).

Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 8
Attach the chain to the crystal dangle by opening and closing the loop.

Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings
Step 9
Finish up by adding both earring loops to a jump ring. Slip the chain end and jump ring onto ear wire.
(Or make your own: https://www.wirejewelry.com/jewelry_making_patterns_tutorials/Make-a-Perfect-Pair-of-Ear-Wires_322.html)
Kristal Wick's Sparkling Cup Chain Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, sparkling cup chain earrings