Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
August 9, 2011

Question:

Do you know a pattern for making ear cuffs for people who do not have pierced ears and cannot tolerate screw-back or pressure clamp earrings?

-Shelley in Dallas, Texas

Answer:

Hi Shelley, not only do we have several patterns for ear cuffs, but we also have supply kits! If you do not already receive our Free Email Patterns, I would like to suggest that you sign up to begin receiving them right away! These are completely free patterns and a new design will be sent to your valid email address every two weeks, completely stepped out with both written and photographed directions (by the talented members of the Wire-Sculpture Faculty and me).

We currently have a kit for Donna Zimmer’s Ear Cuffs, and when you sign up to receive our Free Email Patterns, one of the many patterns you will receive is a fun Ear Cuff with a Dangle by Albina Manning! I hope you enjoy all of the creative wire jewelry designs we can send to you! (By the way, each of the Jewelry Making Supply Kits comes with enough supplies to create three of each project! What a deal.)

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
June 23, 2011

Question:

I have several buttons that I’ve saved, and I’m interested in wire wrapping them. I haven’t seen many pictures of wire wrapped button jewelry, do you have any suggestions?

-Maureen in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Answer:

Hello Maureen, we have just the thing! We have a new free site pattern from Albina Manning that uses buttons to create a wire wrapped button ring. You can use 2- or 4-hole buttons with this design, and it’s very easy to incorporate buttons into wire wrapped earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. We hope this is a good spark for your imagination!

Click to discover Albina Manning’s Button Ring

Be sure to check out the rest of our free wire jewelry patterns! You can always find them in the blue bar at the top of the page, click on this button:

Answer contributed by Wire-Sculpture Staff

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
July 29, 2010

Question:

What gauge of wire do I use for hoop ear rings? Everything I try seems to be too light.

-Cookie in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Answer:

The size of the wire used for hoop earrings really depends on the style of hoop you desire to create. If you want to make plain hoops that go through the ear with nothing on them, take the size of a piercing into consideration and use from an 18-gauge for larger holes, down to a 21-gauge for smaller.

If you want to make a more substantial hoop, then my advice would be to use any gauge you want, from an 18- through a 14-gauge, and attach the hoop to an ear wire or post for the customer’s comfort. When using these larger gauges, it is fun to forge the hoops with a chasing hammer and a bench block, to add some cool texture to the metal.

For a start, check out this Free Pattern for Hoop Earrings.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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