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Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder. Have you ever had a

Paddle Fringe Earrings

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Making Loops, Butane Torch Techniques
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Have you ever had a "Light Bulb Moment" where something just clicked? Well, that is how these earrings originated. I had just made a bracelet with 21 gauge balled head pins I also made, some of which I paddled. A few were left on my work table along with a ton of crinkled wire pieces cut from the ends of the headpins. I usually just put them in the scrap box to melt down later but decided to straighten them out and sort them by size. I balled both ends of the wires and hammered them. My thought was to wrap and twist several together to make a natural element to hang a pendant from. They ended up a bit short-well, a lot short. And then the Light Bulb turned on and I ended up with a fabulous pair of earrings! Imagine a neck chain made with these paddled elements! Hint: Argentium silver wire is much whiter than sterling and seems to have more sparkle. Also, balled Argentium wire is smooth and not pitted like sterling.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $19.67
  • Gold Club Price: $14.75
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Sterling Silver Earwire w/ Coil - Round Wire 25mm - Pack of 2
K19-42
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.89
  • Gold Club Price: $1.42
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Sterling Silver Mirror Beads 4mm - Pack of 10
K9-175
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.18
  • Gold Club Price: $3.14
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Sterling Silver Mirror Beads 6mm - Pack of 5
K9-177
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.44
  • Gold Club Price: $4.08
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Tools

Blazer GB4001 Stingray Torch, Black
TRCH-4001
  • TRCH-4001
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.95
  • Gold Club Price: $37.46
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Fire Brick
SOL-485.00
  • SOL-485.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.95
  • Gold Club Price: $11.96
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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: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
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BALLPEIN HAMMER SUPREME- 8OZ
HAM-430.18
  • HAM-430.18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
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Acculoop Precision Round Nose
PLR-741.00
  • PLR-741.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $18.97
  • Gold Club Price: $14.23
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Instructions
Step 1
Read through the directions before beginning the project.

Important: See Step 10 if using beads other than those shown! Each set of earrings requires 34 pieces of wire to be cut to approximately the length stated. Do not worry about flush cutting the ends.

Paddled Wire Gauge Paddled Wire Length Four 20 gauge Jump Rings

20 gauge 1-1/16" 4.5mm ID

21 gauge 1-3/32" 4.5mm ID

22 gauge 1-1/8" 4mm to 4.5mm ID
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 2
Follow these steps for each paddled element:

Hold one wire end with tips of a chain nose pliers. Wait until the ball is no longer red before placing it on the solder brick. Ball one end using the butane micro torch. By the time all the wires are done, the first wire will be cool and ready for the next step.
Pro Tip: Use an old inexpensive pair of pliers for this step.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 3
Hold the balled end of a wire with tips of a chain nose pliers. Ball the other end using the butane micro torch. Try to not make the pieces shorter than ½". Not all the balled wires will be the same length. Don't worry. Wait a few minutes for all the wires to cool before going on to the next step.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 4
The balled ends will probably not be centered on the wire. Use a chain or flat nose pliers to grasp the wire close to the ball. Press the ball on a hard surface to center it on the wire.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 5
Place a balled wire on a bench block. Hammer both ends flat. Hint: Notice that the hammer used has rounded edges. This avoids hammering divots in your metal. The bench block seen here is not smooth and shiny for photographic purposes. The smoother the bench block, the shinier the finished paddled elements will be.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 6
Grasp the center of one paddled wire at the 2mm mark on the Acculoop precision round nose pliers. Wrap the wire around the pliers, crossing the paddled ends. Hint: If an Acculoop precision round nose pliers is not available, use a MM gauge to find where 2mm is on a pair of round nose pliers and mark with an ultra fine point Sharpie.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 7
The crossed wires may not be touching. Grasp the loop between the jaws of a flat nosed pliers and gently squeeze to get the crossed wires to touch.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 8
Pickle, rinse, tumble and dry all the tiny paddled elements.

While the paddled elements are getting a tumble polish, make eye pins if they are not available.
Pro Tip: It can be difficult to find all the tiny pieces in the tumbler shot. To save that aggravation, use a scrap piece of wire to hold all the paddled loops together in a ring where they move freely before putting in the tumbler.
Step 9
Cut two 2¾" lengths of 20, 21, or 22 gauge hard round wire. Make sure one end is flush cut on each wire. Use the smallest step of the 6 step barrel pliers to make an eye loop on the flush cut end of the one wire. Center the loop on the wire. Repeat the process with the other wire.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 10:
To assemble each earring, do the following:
Open the eye loop and add 4 paddled elements. Close the eye loop. Note: A while back I mistakenly ordered some 6mm LARGE HOLE silver beads. They are perfect for this project. However, if you are not using a bead like this that covers the top third of the eye loop, you will need to add 6 paddled elements to the eye loop instead of four.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - To assemble each earring, do the following:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - To assemble each earring, do the following:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 11
Place 6 paddled elements on an open jump ring. Separate the paddled elements on the eye pin so two are on each side. Place the jump ring between the two sets of paddled elements on the eye pin. Close the jump ring.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 12
Place 7 paddled elements on an open jump ring. Separate the paddled elements on the closed jump ring so three are on each side. Place the jump ring between the two sets of paddled elements on the closed jump ring. Close the jump ring containing the 7 elements. Shake the eye pin and elements to get them to nestle together nicely.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 13
Slide the 6mm large hole bead and then the 4mm bead onto the eye pin.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 14
It is important to make sure that none of the paddled elements are hung up in the large hole bead before starting the wire wrapped loop. Grasp the eye loop wire close to the top bead with the tips of a chain nose pliers. Bend the wire at a 90 degree angle. Before releasing the pliers, check that the paddled elements on the eye loop still swing a bit.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 15
Make a 2mm loop and wire wrap the shank. Before the last wrap around the shank, make sure that the paddled elements on the eye loop are not stuck in the bead hole. They probably won't be swinging freely, but they should still move a bit when pushed with your fingers.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings
Step 16
Finish the wire wrapped loop. Trim off the wire end. Use chain nose pliers to tuck the wire wrap loop cut end in. Attach ear wires.
Judy Larson's Paddle Fringe Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, paddle fringe earrings

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