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Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings, Classic Wire Jewelry. Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Enter the new rage of wire sculpted earrings.
Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings
by Janne Etz
  • Category: Classic
  • Technique(s): Making Findings, Making Loops, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Enter the new rage of wire sculpted earrings. This relatively new method of making earrings that climb up the ear with wire is HOTTER than ever. Quick to make, just a little wire, a few beads, and you're in business. Copyright @ 2009

Materials

21 Gauge Round Half Hard 14/20 Gold Filled Wire
H4-21H
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $6.45
  • Gold Club Price: $4.84
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Purple Dumortierite 4mm Round 8 Inch Strand
A1-848
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.97
  • Gold Club Price: $3.73
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Purple Dumortierite 6mm Round 8 Inch Strand
A1-849
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.96
  • Gold Club Price: $4.47
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Gold Filled Bright Beads 3mm - Pack of 10
J9-322
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.90
  • Gold Club Price: $2.18
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Tools

4.5 Inch Round Nose Pliers
G2-12
  • G2-12
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.98
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Economy Precision Chain Nose Pliers
G2-8
  • G2-8
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.97
  • Gold Club Price: $4.48
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Xuron Flush Cutter - Pack of 1
G2-504
  • G2-504
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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Instructions
Step 1
Make a tiny loop at the end of one 4" length of wire.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 2
Slide on one 3mm metal bead, then one 4mm gemstone bead, then another 3mm metal bead.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 3
With chain nose pliers and thumbnail, bend the wire directly beneath the last 3mm bead, back towards the beads
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 4
Move the chain nose pliers up from the bend about 1/8" and bend back down.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 5
Slide on another 3mm metal bead, then one 6mm gemstone bead, then another 3mm metal bead.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 6
Place the very tip of your round nose pliers directly under the last 3mm bead and wrap the wire around twice, very small and tight.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 7
After the second coil around, without moving the pliers, bend the wire straight out away (perpendicular) from the beads.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 8
Grab the wire that is now sticking out perpendicular, with your pliers directly up against the beads, and bend the wire up -- now parallel to the beads
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 9
With one smooth movement of your thumb and thumbnail, curve the wire forward to follow the curve of the beads.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 10
Trim the wire approximately 1/4" above the beads. (You won't need to trim it so far above the beads on a longer ear pin design.) File the end of the wire.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 11
The back wire should be far enough away from the beads at the base of the ear pin for it to fit comfortably in the customer's ear. However, the wire should touch or cross the design at the top -- this tension is what holds the ear pin up.
Pro Tip: Always explain to your customer how to "recross" the wires so they can adjust the ear pins themselves if they happen to lose their tesion through normal manipulation of putting them on and taking them off.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 12
I like this particular design because it gives the customer that multiple-perced look if they only have one hole in their ear (below, top), or it can be worn as an accent in a second hole (below, bottom).
You can obviously make this design longer, or embellish it with kinks or curls -- whatever your imagination can think of! I might point out that the reason for the "double-loop" at the bottom of the design is that it takes some of the pressure off when the customer repeatedly "pulls" on the back wire to put the ear pin on.

I've found that if you just bend the wire directly over and up, it may eventually break.
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Janne Etz's Wire Sculpted Climbing Earrings - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Findings, Clasps, Components, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,

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