How to Make Earrings Out of Household Items

Wrapped wire jewelry is traditionally made with beads and stones, but is adaptable to many items.

Small household objects like marbles, thimbles and mini dominoes can be turned into fun and creative jewelry pieces with wire wrapping techniques. The possibilities for what can be used are limited only by your imagination. Game pieces and dice can be used to make prizes for a girl's game night. Copper screws or shiny nickel bolts become great jewelry gifts for the handy women who helped you with a home-improvement project. Discarded buttons can make unique fashion statements for any gift-giving occasion.

Things You'll Need

• 20-gauge jewelry wire
• Wire cutters
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Flat-nosed pliers
• Small household objects, such as buttons
• Fish hook earring findings

Instructions

Create a Spiral Base

1. Cut two 12- to 18-inch lengths of wire with wire cutters. The larger the object you intend to wrap, the longer your wire should be. If you are unsure of the length you need, wrap your object in a piece of string or twine, measure the length used, and add 4 inches to your total.

2. Using needle nose pliers, bend the tip of a length of wire over onto itself to create a tiny loop. Repeat with the second piece of wire.

3. 

   Imperfection is part of the beauty of handmade jewelry; don't try to make your spiral perfect.

   Use the flat nosed pliers to grip the small loop at the base of the wire in a flat position. Continue to bend the wire around onto itself to create a small spiral, making three to five full loops, using 2 inches of wire length. Repeat with the second piece of wire.

Wrap and Finish your Earrings

1. Make a 90 degree bend in your wire from the top of the spiral. Place your object flush against the spiral, with the side you wish to be the bottom of the earring against the spiral top.

2. Wrap the wire around the object, pressing it snugly to fit. If you have difficulty bending the wire around sharp turns, use the flat nosed pliers. Continue to wrap all sides of the object until you have a 2-inch tail of wire remaining. Repeat with your second wire.

3. Use the flat nosed pliers to make a 90 degree bend approximately 1/3 of the length up from the wrapped object in each of the wire tails. Thread fish hook earring findings onto the wires to the bend point.

4. Use flat nosed pliers to bend the wire into a full 180-degree-turn. The two pieces of wire should be parallel, with the earring finding at the apex of the bend.

5. Grip the apex of the wire with needle nose pliers and use your free hand to wrap the remaining tail of the wire snugly around the neck of the wire, creating a spiral. If you have trouble bending the wire with your fingers, use flat nosed pliers. When you can no longer wrap the wire, use flat nosed pliers to crimp it tightly against the neck of the piece, ensuring a flat finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Add sparkle and interest to your earrings by stringing small seed beads onto the wire as you wrap. Secure them in place with a crimp bead on either side, flattened by a flat nose pliers, or by bending the wire at a sharp angle before and after you have placed the bead.

References

• Incredible Art Department: Wrapped Wire Jewelry
• How to Make Beaded Jewelry: How to Make a Briolette Wrap

Resources

• YouTube: Introduction to Wire Wrap Jewelry