How to Make Jewel Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings
Sterling silver and crystals can be elegant additions to your jewelry collection but come with a price tag. Making a pair of jeweled sterling hoop earrings is a way to save money and customize color, size and shape.
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Things You'll Need
- 20-gauge sterling silver wire (12 inches)
- Film canister
- Wire cutters
- Round-nose pliers
- 10 bicone crystals (3 mm)
- 400-grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Cut the 20-gauge wire in half. For each earring, wrap the wire around the empty film canister to form a loop with a 1 cm overlap. With the round-nose pliers, grasp one end and twist it to the side to form a hook.
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2
String 5 crystals onto the unhooked end of the wire. Repeat with the other earring. Adjust the crystal placement as you like.
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3
Grasp the unhooked end of the wire about 3 mm from the tip with the round-nose pliers and bend it up. This should form a kink at an approximately 100-degree angle. Check that this bend fits securely in the hooked end of the hoop. Repeat with the second earring.
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4
File the kinked end of each hoop with sandpaper, taking care to round the end without sanding it to a sharp point. This is the end that will be fitted into a pierced ear.
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Tips & Warnings
Use silver-plated wire if you are on a budget.
Substitute gemstone chips or other small round beads for crystals to change the look.
For smaller hoops, substitute a bottle cap for the film canister.
Keep your earrings in a sealed plastic bag to prevent tarnishing.
