February 12, 2012

DIY: Spring Flower Earrings

This lesson shows how to make 3-D (three-dimensional) spiral and use it for making earrings, pendants, etc.
Materials:
•    15” (38cm)* of 18 ga Round Soft Wire
•    Jump rings -2
•    Ear wire -2
* The length of the wire depends on the mandrel’s diameter and the number of coils.
Tools:
•    Chain nose pliers
•    Wire cutters
•    Round mandrel (or pencil)
Step 1: Clean, straighten the 18ga wire (you can work from the spool). Start coiling the wire end around the mandrel.
Step 2: Make 6 full coils around the mandrel. Cut the wire.
Step 3: Remove the spring from the mandrel and using flash cutters cut one end. Make the second cut on the other side of the coiled wire, directly across from the first cut.
Step 4-5: With your fingers, start opening the coils from just one side (outside). Both cuts have to be inside the spring (see red arrows).
Step 6: Continue forming the spring circle. The wire cuts have to meet each other and be very close.
Step 7: Make sure that all six “rays” are evenly distributed.
Step 8: Using jump-rings, attach the ear wires.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass produce.
©Albina Manning
See more my tutorials here .

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