Marking your pliers with crystals

Yesterday I was teaching a jewelry class.  Some of my students had the same tools that looked alike (e.g. all crimp pliers look alike). While teaching classes  (or taking a class), you may accidentally grab somebody's pliers. To know which tool is yours,  simply mark it :) 

I have all my pliers marked with Swarovski hotfix crystal rhinestones, 5mm.

Clean the surface of your pliers from grease and dirt. 

These crystals are "not recommended for leather, water resistant material or non-porous surfaces", so I put a tiny drop of 'Jewelry&Metal Glue'.

Also, you can use adhesive backed crystals (you find them in scrap-booking department). There is just one snag - those crystals may "wear out" and have not pretty look.
Also, you can use paint to mark your pliers. Just do not paint handles.

Ear Sweeps

Ear sweeps are earrings that are like a bobby-pin type earrings made to fit the lobes and the outside ridge of your ear.

 You will have a multiple-pierced look without the extra holes :-)

Putting on Ear Sweeps:
Thread the back wire of the Ear Sweep through an existing pierced ear hole in a downward position. Pull through as far as it will go. Rotate the Ear Sweep upward. Continue rotating while pulling the outer ear in-between the back and front portions of the Ear Sweep.

Ear Sweeps may be adjusted to fit most ears.
- DO NOT make any adjustments while the Ear Sweep is on the ear.
- To tighten or loosen, do so a little at a time until it is comfortable yet snug.
- The ends of the wire should cross each other or almost touch. 

You can buy Ear Sweeps here

DIY: Bead Crimping: Necklace - Bracelet

Today I want to show you how to make a necklace or a bracelet using beading wire.

 Beading wire is a flexible stainless steel wire that consists of several strands of wire bound in a nylon coating. It combines the strength of steel with the softness of thread. The more strands in the wire, the more flexible your project will be. There are several brands of beading (stringing) wire on the market: Beadalon®,  Accu-Flex®, Soft Flex®, etc. 

To make this necklace you will need: variety of gem chips, beading wire, two crimp beads, 2 crimp covers, clasp (toggle), crimping pliers, chain nose (I used bent nose) pliers, wire cutters. 

Hammered Fringe Copper Necklace and Earrings

Last weekend, I made a lot of noise. Hope, my neighbors (and my husband) are not mad at me :)  
I cut a lot of pieces of 14ga copper wire- this part was quiet, and then hammered all of them. That was fun :)
This necklace catches the light beautifully and reminds me of a cascading waterfall.

 

 Center piece is approximately 3.5" (9cm)long.

Matching chandelier  earrings hang on a copper chain.

You can buy this jewelry here

Rose Bud Earrings Studs

You will love these cuties! These little rose posts made out of one continuous piece wire.

The size of buds is about 7 mm (5/16").

For those who likes copper:

For gold lovers- gold rose buds

More Earrings see at my shop here

Earrings in Argentium Sterling Silver

I love to work with Argentium sterling silver wire! To make some of my jewelry I use a torch to make a ball on the end of the wire. Working with copper or regular sterling silver you got a fire scale and the ball  is moderately pitted (sterling silver) or slightly pitted (copper). With Argentium  sterling silver wire the ball is smooth!

This pair of Orbital earrings is made with argentium sterling silver wire and green faceted malachite (imitation) beads.

Pretty and delicate, these earrings are made with green goldstone beads.

Argentium sterling silver wire replaces some of the copper with the element germanium, and by definition, Argentium never contains less than 93% true silver. The germanium, coupled with the silver and copper, creates a fine piece of anti-tarnish silver wire that you will love to wear! 

You can buy these earrings here

Wire from Wire-Sculpture.com

Amethyst 14k Gold Zigzag Earrings

Usually, I work with copper ( I love copper) and sterling silver (or SS filled) wire. When I've got these hand-cut flat rectangle amethyst beads... I knew,  they wanted to be framed in gold! 

So, I ordered 14Kgold filled wire from Wire-Sculpture and made this pair :)
They look simple and elegant.
They go with just about everything!

 You can order them here