These lovely Amazonite Gemstone Drop Earrings are made with one simple technique: the wrapped loop. We’ll show you the easy way to make a wrapped loop using 24-gauge wire and round-nose pliers. Once you master the wrapped loop you can make all kinds of wirework earrings. Watch the video we made to see that it’s really not hard at all! We’ll show you every step.
Video: How To Make Amazonite Gemstone Drop Earrings
How To Make Gemstone Drop Earrings
Materials
2 Amazonite gemstones, nugget shaped, 12mmx15mm (drilled top to bottom)
4 Round faceted crystal beads, light peach, 4mm
2 Gold rings, 12mm diameter
2 Gold headpins, 2″
2 Gold earring wires
24-gauge wire, gold
Tools
Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Steps
1. To get started making the gemstone drop earrings, slide the nugget gemstone onto the headpin.
2. Next, make a wrapped loop in the headpin. To do this, grasp the wire just above the gemstone using the round-nose pliers. Bend the wire 90 degrees.
3. Reposition the pliers to the top of the bend.
4. Pull the short tail of the wire up and over the top jaw of the pliers to form a partial loop.
5. Reposition the piers so the bottom jaw is in the partial loop.
6. Pull the tail the rest of the way around to form a complete loop.
7. Slide the gold ring into the loop.
8. Hold the loop across using the pliers and pull the tail around the neck two times. That is the wrapped part of the wrapped loop.
9. Trim the end of the wire using the wire cutters.
10. Next, cut a piece of gold wire about 3″ long. Grasp the wire about one third of the way down using the round-nose pliers. Pull the short end of the wire over the pliers to make a 90-degree bend in the wire.
11. Move the pliers to the top of the bend. Pull the short tail of the wire up and over the top jaw of the pliers to form a partial loop.
12. Reposition the piers so the bottom jaw is in the partial loop. Pull the tail the rest of the way around to form a complete loop.
13. Slide the gold ring into the loop.
14. Hold the loop across using the pliers and pull the tail around the neck two times. Trim the end of the wire using the wire cutters.
15. Slide 2 crystal beads onto the wire.
16. Grasp the wire just above the beads using the round-nose pliers. Bend the wire 90 degrees, then move the pliers to the top of the bend. Pull the tail of the wire up and over the top jaw of the pliers to form a partial loop. Reposition the piers so the bottom jaw is in the partial loop. Pull the tail the rest pf the way around to form a complete loop.
17. Slide the earring wire into the loop.
18. Hold the loop across using the pliers and pull the tail around the neck two times. Trim the end of the wire using the wire cutters. Repeat to make the second matching earring.
Didn’t these drop earrings turn out so pretty!? And you can make them with any color beads you like. We chose the nugget shapes because they’re so artsy, but any bead drilled top to bottom will work as the focal bead. Then complement that bead with crystals at the top of the earrings.
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
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