Sun Valley Earrings Tutorial

Created by: Mollie Valente

Designer Tips

Measure and mark the hanging hole placement near the upper corners of the half-round blanks. These should be set back from the edge about 1/16".
Use the hole punch pliers to punch holes at the marked positions.
The half-circle blanks can be used as is, or textured/stamped/embossed to add pattern (see texturing suggestions below).
Cut the length of wire into 2 equal pieces.
Use a ring mandrel to bend a size-14 curve in the middle of each wire; this should result in two "U"-shaped pieces.
Add four beads to each U-shaped piece.
Form hanging loops in the U-shaped wire. The loops should face perpendicular to the metal blank's face.
Attach the hanging loops to the punched holes in the blanks. Securely close the loops.
Position the beads so there are two beads on each side of the wire.

Twist open the ear wire loop and attach it to the top of U-shaped wire. Twist the ear-wire loop securely closed. Repeat.
New to Jewelry-Making?

For instructions on making loops, and most secure way to open and close jump rings, see Jewelry Basics 101 (PDF).
For additional earring-making tips, see Making Earrings 101 (PDF).

Suggested Supplies

2 each #44-722-25-0 Brass Stamping Blank, Half-Circle, 1-1/8"
1 spool (use 6") #47-205-20 Red Brass Jewelry Wire, 20ga, Round, 79'
1 hundred (use 8 pieces) #26-155-32-6 Antiqued Brass Plated Metal Beads, Rondelle, 3.2mm
1 gross (use 2 pieces) #34-840-02-0 Titanium Earring Hook Findings, Plain

Tools

Other Supplies

Suggested Texturing Tools (optional)

Add pattern with DecoEmboss dies with your embossing machine:

#69-325-011 Vintaj DecoEmboss Die, Acorn Hollow - Limited Availability
#69-325-032 Sizzix DecoEmboss Dazzle Pattern Embossing Die - Limited Availability
#69-325-029 Vintaj DecoEmboss Organic Texture Embossing Die - Limited Availability

Add pattern with metal stamping tools and stamp sets: