How to Make Bead Wrapped Hammered Wire Earrings

Today we are making a pair of earrings with great rustic appeal, by shaping and hammering wire.
You will need:
10 - 12 inches of 14 gauge copper wire
25 - 30 inches of 28 gauge copper wire
20 - 30 3mm beads
2 ear wires

chasing hammer
bench block
file
7mm bail pliers or 7mm round object
wire cutters
chain nose pliers
26mm x 20mm oval mandrel (or similar shaped object to wrap wire around)
The first thing we're going to do is shape the small round loop at the top of our wire. I'm going to use pliers, putting the end of the wire just a little bit past, then wrap, tightening the grip as you twist and loosening as you adjust the wire. Continue to shape the wire past the cut end so that you have a fully rounded loop. You will later cut the excess away.

Using a 26 x 20mm oval mandrel you need to shape it a little past the end so it is rounded completely. Then you will cut the wire where it meets the small loop, then do the same to the loop.

Next you will use your bench block and chasing hammer to flatten the wire evenly throughout. If you'd like, you can use the rounded side of the hammer on both sides of the wire to give it a nice hammered finish.

After hammering, use your file to smooth the ends where you cut the wire. You may have to use a pair of pliers to twist the ends so that they meet the frame evenly.

Now that the frame is finished, you will take one end of your fine gauge wire, starting near the opening, and wrap it around the frame tightly 3 - 4 times. Trim the excess at the beginning of the wire, then string on a bead and hold the bead to the outside of the frame.

The way I like to wrap wire on a closed frame is to poke up a loop with my finger through the middle, then gently pull it through, so that there is less chance of it getting tangled. If you find that you have a loop crossed over itself, you need to stop right away and uncross that loop because it is likely to become tangled. Wrap around two to three times (or however many you feel looks good) and then string on another bead and repeat those steps all the way around your frame, wrapping at the end just like at the beginning, and then trim away the excess.

Now you need to add your ear wire. Using a pair of chain nose pliers, open the ear wire's loop and insert the loop of your frame. Twist the ear wire closed, and you are done.

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