Tutorial: Spring Flower Earrings

Spring Flower Earrings by Albina Manning 
Copyright 2010 Albina Maning

Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass produce. Please always give credit to the Teacher*

www.around-beads.info

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This lesson shows how to make 3-D (three-dimensional) spirals and use it for making earrings, pendants, etc.

Materials:

· 15” (38cm)* of 18 ga Round Soft Wire

· Jump rings -2

· Ear wire -2

* The length of the wire depends on the mandrel’s diameter and the number of coils.

Tools:

· Chain nose pliers

· Wire cutters

Round mandrel (or pencil)

Step 1:

Clean and straighten the 18ga wire (you can work from the spool). Start coiling the wire end around the mandrel.

Step 2:

Make 6 full coils around the mandrel. Cut the wire.

Step 3:

Remove the spring from the mandrel and using flash cutters cut one end as shown.

Step 4:

Make the second cut on the other side of the coiled wire, directly across from the first cut.

Step 5:

With your fingers, start opening the coils from just one side (outside). Both cuts have to be on the inside of the spring (see red arrows)

Step 6:

Continue forming the spring circle. The wire cuts have to meet each other and be very close.

Step 7:

Make sure that all six “rays” are evenly spaced

Step 8:

Using jump-rings, attach the ear wires

Variation: you can make 7-coil flower as well

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

* Published with permission of Albina Manning