Wire-filled Heart Earrings

by Natalie Patten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

These pretty heart earrings are shaped easily and filled with a simple-to-make woven lace effect.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $4.82
Gold Club Price: $3.61

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26 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-26H

Lesson Quantity: 40.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $3.91
Gold Club Price: $2.93

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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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2mm crystals

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 12.00 each

6mm Aquamarine 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10

A13-84B

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

Out of Stock

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Tools

5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws

G2-1

G2-1
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.97
Gold Club Price: $7.48

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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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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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Cut 6 inches of 18-gauge wire (per earring). In the center of the wire, create a bend which will form the tip of your heart.

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Step 2

Using bail step pliers, form a curve around the pliers to create a rounded shape so that the wire travels down meeting the centre where the pointed bend is.

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Step 3

Using chain nose pliers, hold the wire at the point in which it curves and bend back up to a vertical position.

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Step 4

On the other side of the wire where it runs straight, position the bail step pliers in line with the curve on the other side of the frame.

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Step 5

Curve again over the bail step pliers towards the centre so that it creates a heart shape and bring the wire down towards the centre point of the heart.

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Step 6

Start to curve this wire up towards the vertical one.

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Step 7

Wrap the wire around the vertical wire to lock in place.

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Step 8

Using wire cutters, cut the remaining wire from the loop.

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Step 9

Use pliers to pinch this wrap tightly to lock the frame of the heart shape together.

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Step 10

Place the bail step pliers back inside the curves of the heart to reshape.

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Step 11

Use flat nose or chain nose pliers, to create a desired shape if you would like the base of the heart to be more tapered.

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Step 12

Make the next earring by repeating steps 1 through 11, to check that they are the same and that the earrings will be symmetrical.

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Step 13

Secure on a long length of 26 gauge round weaving wire to the side of the heart frame.

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Step 14

Using the tip of the round nose pliers, create little coils by turning the pliers along the weaving wire.

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Step 15

These do not have to be tight, neat coils as this will create an organic and free-form lace effect.

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Step 16

Continue to make small circular coils along the wire, moving along in different directions by repositioning your round nose pliers down the wire to create a more coils.

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Step 17

Flatten out the coils with your fingers or nylon coated pliers so that they overlap each other in places.

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Step 18

Alternatively, you can coil the length of weaving wire prior to attaching to the frame if this method is easier.

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Step 19

You should now have a long length of flattened coils.

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Step 20

This can now be attached to the side of the frame.

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Step 21

Start to fill the space inside the heart frame with the curled weaving wire.

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Step 22

Attach to the sides of the frame to secure it into place.

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Step 23

Press down with nylon coated pliers to ensure all the weaving wire sits inside of the frame and is flat so that it does not stick out and have the ability to catch.

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Step 24

Do this on both earrings to check that they are filled evenly with the weaving wire in an organic, free form way.

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Step 25

Using the weaving wire (a new length can be attached if required) start to stitch the curls in place and add the small gemstones (or seed beads).

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Step 26

Weave in and out, stitching your curled wire in place adding micro faceted gemstones into the frame to fill the space to create a woven lace effect.

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Step 27

Cut off any excess weaving wire and gently tighten any loose wires around the frame.

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Step 28

Add the larger round gemstone bead to the vertical wire above the heart.

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Step 29

Bend this wire at the top of the bead to a 90-degree angle (this will ensure that the loop you are about to form will sit neatly at the top of the bead.)

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Step 30

Using round nose or bail step pliers form a wrapped loop.

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Step 31

Use the excess wire to form a decorative curl with the round nose pliers.

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Step 32

Position this curl in front of the loop.

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Step 33

Do the same to the other earring.

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Step 34

You should now have a matching pair.

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Step 35

Attach your ear wires on to the wrapped loops.

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Reviews

Natalie Patten

I'm Natalie Patten, I'm from Liverpool in the UK. I first discovered my love of wire work during lockdown and this hobby quickly spiralled into a huge passion and obsession, for wire wrapping crystal gemstones. So much so, that I changed my career working in education, to become a jewellery designer and set up my business Rock, Scissors, Paper specialising in wire wrapped, ethically sourced gemstone jewellery. I also secured my dream job designing and teaching for the UK's largest supplier of beads for jewellery making! I make lots of different jewellery designs with a variety of techniques but my absolute favourite is wire work and I feel absolutely blessed that I can spend my time creating, learning and sharing my passion with others!