Retired - Santa Ana Earrings

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Using flush cutters, cut a 6 inch piece of 18 gauge silver wire. Straighten the wire with nylon jaw pliers if necessary. Smooth any burrs at the tips with a wire rounder tool.
2. Grip one end of the wire between the thickest part of the jaws of your round nose pliers. The tip of the wire should not be protruding from the jaws of the pliers. Slowly turn the hand holding the pliers to create a closed loop at the end of your length of wire.
3. Using flat nose pliers, grip the wire tip of your loop and turn it inward, creating a slight spiral.
4. Position the loop of your wire against one edge of the 13mm square of your square mandrel pliers. Keeping your loop centered against the square mandrel, eyeball where the first bend in the wire should go and create a 90-degree bend using flat nose pliers.
5. Rotate the wire so the loop end of the wire is hanging downward, and grip the wire in the jaws of the square mandrel pliers. Use your fingers to create another 90-degree bend in the wire.
6. Repeat step 5 twice more, so your wire is bent into a completed square shape. Use your fingers to gently shape the wire so the opposing sides are parallel and neat. Your loop from steps 2-3 should be in the middle of the top of the square.
7. Take the long end of the wire and measure 3/4 inches from the center of the square. Cut off the rest with flush cutters.
8. Grip the tip of the straight end of the wire between the thickest part of the jaws of your round nose pliers. Repeat steps 2-3, creating a slightly spiraled loop that curls downward inside of the square, as shown in the photo. Use flat nose pliers to finesse the loop, positioning it just below the outer loop at the top of the wire square.
9. Place the wire square on your metal bench block. Holding it carefully with the tips of your fingers, hammer the piece with your chasing hammer to slightly flatten and texturize the wire. Once the piece has been evenly hammered, set it aside.
10. Cut a 1 foot piece of 26 gauge silver wire. Straighten the wire with nylon jaw pliers if necessary.
11. Watch our video on how to wire wrap rows of beads onto a form. Following the technique shown in the video, make three wraps to anchor your wire to the square form. Then string five 3mm Austrian crystal pearls onto the wire, and wrap the wire seven times on the opposite side of the form. Then string five more Austrian crystal pearls, and make three more wraps on the first side of the form. Cut off the excess wire with flush cutters.
12. Open the loop of an earring hook the same way you would open a jump ring. Slide on the top loop of your square wire piece. Close the loop of the earring hook.
13. Enjoy!

• WNT-2630 - Beadsmith Tarnish Resistant Silver Color Copper Wire 26 Gauge 34 Yards (31 Meters)
  Project uses 2 feet. You will need 1 package.


• WNT-1830 - Beadsmith Tarnish Resistant Silver Color Copper Wire 18 Gauge 10 Yards (9.1 Meters)
  Project uses 1 foot. You will need 1 package.


• SWP-3012 - Austrian Crystal, 5810 Round Faux Pearl Beads 3mm, 50 Pieces, Rosaline
  Project uses 20 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FEA-3091 - Antiqued Silver Plated Plated Fish Hook Earring Hooks (50)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-0131 - Wire Rounder Tool With Wooden Handle 1.8mm Cup Bur
• XTL-5674 - Wubbers Large Square Mandrel Pliers - 10 And 13mm Jaw Sizes
• XTL-0074 - Eurotool Nylon Jaw Pliers Chain Nose- For Scratch-Free Wire Work
• XTL-2152 - Beadsmith Jeweler's Chasing Hammer - 1 Inch Head - Metal Smithing
• XTL-0250 - Eurotool Bench Block Helper - Rubber Base With Interchangeable Steel And Nylon Blocks