Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Texturing, Drilling, Drill. Working with aluminum wire is delightfully easy as the wire is soft.
Elegant Earrings Take One
by Judy Freyer Thompson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Texturing, Drilling
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Working with aluminum wire is delightfully easy as the wire is soft. This simple earring is stepped up a notch with the addition of a glitzy bead! So easy, but so elegant!

Materials

12 Gauge Silver Enameled Aluminum Wire - 40FT
H14-V12-40FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.75
  • Gold Club Price: $5.06
Out of Stock
Sterling Silver Earwires 23mm w/Coil - Pack of 2
K19-53
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.28
  • Gold Club Price: $1.71
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Sterling Silver Bead with Pave Diamonds 5mm - Pack of 1
K9-130
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
  • Price: $35.12
  • Gold Club Price: $26.34
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Or any bead of your choice
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Tools

Deluxe V-Slot Bench Pin with Clamp
BPN-105.00
  • BPN-105.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.98
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Flat Face Chasing Hammer
HAM-161.00
  • HAM-161.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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Ultimate wire-pliers Set
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $99.95
  • Gold Club Price: $74.96
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6PC File Set
FIL-912.10
  • FIL-912.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $39.97
  • Gold Club Price: $29.98
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Swivel-Headed Pin Vise
PIN-220.00
  • PIN-220.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.57
  • Gold Club Price: $4.18
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Variable Speed Rotary Tool with Flexible Shaft
G26-51
  • G26-51
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.97
  • Gold Club Price: $37.48
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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1
G17-10
  • G17-10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $19.97
  • Gold Club Price: $14.98
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Wubbers X-Large Round Mandrel Pliers
G2-1304
  • G2-1304
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $35.97
  • Gold Club Price: $26.98
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Wire Jewelry Cushion Clamp - Pack of 1
G10-1
  • G10-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.96
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Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm
PLR-133.70
  • PLR-133.70
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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Instructions
Step 1
Cut two lengths of aluminum wire 5" long using the wire cutters from the Ultimate Wire Pliers Set. Center the wires on the large end of the Wubbers and bend in half.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, bend the wire in half
Step 2
Using the cushion clamp to hold the wires, lay one wire at a time on the steel bench block and hammer lightly with the round end of the chasing hammer, adding dimension and work hardening.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, texture with a hammer
Step 3
Slide your chosen beads onto the wires.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, slide the bead onto the wire
Step 4
Lay one wire at a time on the steel bench block and hammer the ends into a paddle shape, approximately 3/8" of an inch off the end. Be careful to keep the beads away from the hammer.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, hammer the ends into paddles
Step 5
Rest the paddled ends on the bench pin and gently round the edges using the flat file. Be careful when filing, aluminum is soft and you could quickly remove more material than intended!
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, file the ends
Step 6
Secure the drill bit in the pin vise and drill one hole in the center of each paddle. Using the 600 grit sandpaper, clean up the drilled holes and smooth the paddles.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, drill the holes
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, sand the holes
Step 7
Attach purchased or handmade ear wires by crossing the ends so the holes meet. I added a crystal to each handmade ear wire to glam up these earrings even more!
Judy Freyer Thompson's Elegant Earrings Take One - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Texturing, Drilling, Drill, elegant earrings