Retired - Mod Fusion Earrings

Remember to double these instructions to make your matched set of earrings!To begin, cut a 2' length of 26 gauge German silver plated craft wire. Take one of your Beadalon 20mm Quick Link circles, and using your fingers, press the wire against the form so that a 2 inch tail sticks out one end and the other 22" out the other. Wrap the wire tightly around the form using the 22" length. Make nice, even, tight wraps. Pull snug after each loop and push the wire loops together as you go (if needed) so that they are flush. Continue wrapping until you have wrapped about 75% of the Quick Link. When you finish your wrapping, snip the wire off on both ends. Make sure to snip them on the same side (this will be your back) and then use your flat nose pliers to press the wire end into the form so that there is not a prickly edge. Next, cut a 6 inch length of 26 gauge German silver plated craft wire. Thread your Austrian crystal crystal briolette in provence lavender onto the wire, position it approximately 1" from the end. View this video on creating a briolette wrap. Create a briolette wrap and before you do your actual wrapping, thread your wire wrapped Quick Link through the top loop you have just created (attach it to the part on the Quick Link which is not wire wrapped). Start to complete your wrapping and trim the short end of the wire (once it has made several wraps) with flush cutters. With the long end of the wire, wrap it around the other wire and also the top of the crystal in nice even wraps (see the photo). Once you have made several wraps past the hole in the crystal, then snip off the wire so you have a 3/4" tail. As if you were going to create a swirl head pin, make a tight swirl at the end of your wire. Use your round nose pliers to create a little "kink" in your wire an 1/8" from the swirl. Now use your fingers to shape the wire around the briolette, let it trail down the length wise side of the briolette. Open the loop at the base of your earring hook, do this the same way you would open a jump ring. Thread it onto the Quick Link. Position it in the center of your wire wrapped portion of the link. Close the loop back up.Cut a 2.5" length of craft wire. Create a spiral at one end. Press the spiral on top of where the earring hook is connected and wrap the other end of the wire around the Quick Link and up and over the ear hook base, around the other side of the Quick Link, and back over to the base of the earring hook. Wrap several times around the base of the earring hook until you have a tail of about 3/4". This is reinforcing your ear hook onto the Quick Link and will also hold it in place where you want it to stay. Make another spiral and press it on top of your earring hook base to cover some of your wrappings. Enjoy!Variations:Switch from silver to gold for a completely different look to these earrings or change out the color of the Austrian crystal briolette. It could be fun to even keep the main hoop silver but do all your wire wrapping in gold!When substituting in items, pay attention to sizes and styles to make sure all your pieces will fit together. + or