jewelry making | how to make handcrafted butterfly wing earrings
By agvulpes
How to make : Hand Crafted Jewelry
Hand crafted jewelry has become very popular. Especially Earrings Necklaces and Bracelets.
With this in mind and being prompted by fellow Hubber and good friend 'sweetiepie' I decided to make some hand crafted jewelry. I would like to share with you the journey of me making a pair of butterfly wing earrings, as shown in the image, for my lovely wife.
This was not as difficult as I first thought it would be and all it requires is the butterfly wings and the beads and some basic tools and a bit of creativity.
But first we need to gather some bits and pieces to complete the task.
These wings be they angel or butterfly when hand crafted into great looking earrings would make a great Christmas present for the Lady in any mans life.
Beads and Findings
The set of earrings I made are for pierced ears and so the findings I'm showing are for pierced ears.
Here is a list of parts that I gathered for the set that I made.
Beads (selected to taste and style of earrings required)
Beads of various sizes and colors are readily available at most Art and Craft stores.
Just keep in mind that you will be making a set of two, so to keep symmetry, if you are having a special bead on one side you will need a matching bead for the other side.
To view the images in more detail please 'left click' on required image.
Wings
head pins
Fish hook hangers
Decorative Spacers
Findings
The other bits and pieces that make up the earrings are
called 'findings'. Here is a list of some findings that you may like to
use in making your earrings. Items marked with an ' * ' are used in this project.
- *Head Pins Can be various lengths usually measured in inches. The pins we are using in this example are 2 inches (50mm)in length. They are used to hold the beads, crystals, embellishments together and there is a large cap at one end and after fitting your pieces an 'eye' is formed at the other end. If the beads have a hole that is too large a "bead cap" can be used to stop the pin going through the 'bead'.
- Eye Pins Not used in this project but as the name implies it has an eye on one end to make a more dangley type ornament.( A picture is down lower in the article).
- *Fish hooks the The finding variety, looks like a fish hook and is used to attach the earring to the wearers ear.
- *Decorative Spacers Can be metal, beads or virtually anything to fill up space around the more decorative beads or embellishments (see sample picture below)
- Bead caps Are spacers to place on the ends of bead under the heads of pins to make a more decorative effect and more practically to stop the bead from slipping off the pin.
- Crimps are small metal ferules used to seal the ends of string, elastic and leather straps to stop the beads from slipping off the end of the line. (see sample picture below)
Side Cutters
Round nose pliers
flat nose pliers
Tools
Before you start you will need to have some basic tools, if you are a handy person you will more than likely have these anyway!
- Side Cutters sometimes referred to as Diagonal cutters are used for cutting the pins.
- Round nose pliers are used forming the "eyes" in the pins. They are also useful for twisting the pins and other wire into intricate shapes. The round nose profile will not put a sharp kink into the wire.
- Flat nose pliers are used for opening the "eyes" and aiding in assembly of earrings and other adornments such as bracelets and necklaces.
Laying out your earring
The fun part. Making your earrings
The earrings I am demonstrating here are very simple but effective and I'm sure they will get many admiring and envious glances.
Making your earings
select the beads and findings for both sides of your earrings carefully matching them to keep symmetry.
Lay out all of the components on a tray or a neutral colored cloth (this stops the bits and pieces rolling all over the place.
Assembly of earring
Assembly
When you are happy with the beads and findings you have selected, feed all of the findings and beads on to a head pin.
Cutting the Head Pin
After this assembly cut the head pin to length , leaving enough on the end to form the eye.
Forming the eye
Finished eye
Forming the eye
Using the round nose pliers .
Make the eye by grasping the very end of the pin and rolling the pin around the nose of the pliers. ( see the diagram )
Form the pin to make a nice "eye" so the
centre of the eye lines up with the pin. I would suggest that you practice this on another pin to get the correct technique . Try holding the pliers with your palm facing upwards. This will help get a full turn on the pin.
Opening eye
Finished Earring
Fit assembly to Fishhook
The next step is to fit what you have just assembled to the ear "fishhook", to do this you must open the eye that you just made.
So as not to ruin your nice round "eye", use the flat nose pliers and open the "eye" side ways (see the diagram).
Slide the hook into the now open "eye" and then gently close up the "eye".
Make sure that you complete the circle , and as you are closing the "eye" the end of the pin is touching the other end of the circle, This will not allow the earring to come apart.
The pair of Earrings completed
Finishing off
When you are happy with that, assemble the other earring in the same fashion.
Below is an image of the pair of Earrings shown being made and another pair of a different style using Angel Wings and Faceted Beads.
Different styles
 | Amazon Price: $12.99 List Price: $26.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $129.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 List Price: $49.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $17.99 List Price: $35.99 |
I enjoyed making these earrings enormously and my wife is wearing them all of the time. So there you go, I hope I have inspired many of you to have a go and make some for yourself, or as a present for a partner friend or relative.
You don't have much to lose as I estimate the total cost outlay for these earrings has been no more than $10. (excluding the tools).
A health warning
Just a small warning here. As these earrings are for pierced ears, it is wise to steralise them using something like alcohol wipes or what we call Metholated Spirits.
Comments
Feline Prophet, what can I say but thank you for your kind comment. Yes my wife was thrilled to receive the earrings as a present and also loves them and wears a different set of earrings every day of the week. :-)
Wonderful article. Lovely earrings. I want a pair. The layout of this article is perfect, I love the photos. Is that you forming the eye? It's nice to be able to wear a different pretty pair of earrings each day. If I had a lot as pretty as these I wouldn't know which ones to pick.
Freida , thank you very much for such a grand comment. I'm honored that you would think it such a good article.
LOL Yes that is me you can see forming the eye. Do you think I may need a stunt double? :-)
I'm sure if you put your mind to it , or someone close to you ;-), it would be possible to make even better earrings than mine.
Well, I seriously doubt there can be better earrings than yours. I think you have quite an eye for things that make women feel pretty and happy. And no, you don't need a stunt double. However I would seriously consider insuring your hands. =D
I love your angel earrings, and these are perfect for Christmas. Thanks for mentioning me in your hub, I truly appreciate it!
Those earrings were so cute! I decided to modify them for hoop earrings using the "hook" backings instead of the straight ones...those are too short my fat ear lobes! Thanks so much for sharing this with us! HAPPY BEADING!!
SweetiePie, thank you for your kind comment on the winged earrings, and you are more than welcome about the mention, I'm sure many people will enjoy reading your Hubs. :-)
cr8ve1, thank you for your kind comment. I would love to see your variation on the theme. In fact I have caught the bug now and I'm working on some new styles which I may share on a Hub. My wife loves earrings that dangle, so I'm working along those lines.
Please drop back any time :-)
What a great hub about jewelry|handcrafted winged earnings
You just know I liked the pliers!
Very complete and useful, thanks agvulpes.
earnestshub, lol yes I thought the tools would be more attractive than the earrings. :-)
I bet the round nose pliers were the best.
Thanks Earnestshub for your kind comment.
You and earnest are such guys admiring the tools over the earrings :). Those are some pretty nice pliers though, and I should probably buy myself a new pair eventually.
SweetiePie the pliers you see were my tools of trade and have seen many years of hard work. I'm thinking of investing in a proper jewelery making set of pliers with 'soft jaws'
Very nice earrings and a perfect "how to" article. These are perfect for Christmas. Thanks for sharing.
Great earings and you make it sound so easy. I have tried my hand at jewelry making but I made mostly necklaces but have inspired me to try the earings. Thanks again
C.S.Alexis, as a big fan of your talents,I'm humbled by your comment. :-)
I would urge anyone to 'have a go' because as you say they would make a perfect gift for that special person.
Kathy Rimel, thanks very much for you kind comment. I'm glad that I have inspired you and I would love to see a photograph of your earrings when they are done. I have not attempted necklaces as yet but they are on my 'to do' list :-)
Thanks for dropping by :-)
These earrings are very sweet and lovely. Have you thought of starting a market-stall-type of small business? It sounds as though it would be a great outlet for your creative talents that could also make you a little money on the side.
Hey Ag!! I think you've found a new hobby!! These are fantastic! {{{hugs}}}
Nemingha, thank you for your lovely comment. I'm glad that you liked my creation.
We do have many Art and Craft Markets here in my state of Victoria, and it does sound like a good idea. However because of my many other interests I'm not sure if my output would be enough to keep a stall going. Thanks again for the idea.
Candie V thanks for your kind comment and I value your opinion. It's a bit hard as man trying to work out what woman like and dislike.
Thanks again for your generous comment :-)
Omg you are so talented you surprise me everytime.
blondepoet,
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I enjoy giving nice surprises to people. :-)
Wow! Those are Beautiful. I am creative by nature but have not tried making earrings. I also cannot wear any metals other than gold or silver which means i cannot wear these even if i make it but i am sure these are great items for gifting. Thanks for the Hub especially the description of tools and accessories required. I may as well try my hand making this.
Anamika , high praise indeed coming from you. Thank you very much your comment is greatly appreciated :-)
It is unfortunate that you cannot wear other metals but I know that there are findings available that are made of gold and silver.
Thank you for your kind words.
Nice hobby!
Sandyspider , thanks for the comment and I enjoy making jewelry very much!
nice information, those are beautiful jewelry.
prasetio30, I am glad you like my jewelry, I only do it as a hobby but I really enjoy making earrings and now I'm moving into bracelets :-)
Wow... you put alot of detail into this. I love the little disclaimer at the end on how to avoid infections. Good job. One of my friends makes rings out of silver and brings them over so I can try them on. Love it!
susanlang, thanks for taking the time to drop in and leave another great comment! I have always wanted to have a try at silver-smithing but things just seemed to get in the way :-)
Does your friend ever forget to take the rings home?
Thanks again for dropping by :-)
Very informative hub,have just started making jewelry myself, a fun and creative hobby.
Thanks for dropping in and I'm pleased that you have found my hub on making handcrafted winged earrings useful!
I am now starting to make some bracelets, trying to get the chunky Pandora look!
I like the earrings you made! I use to make them a long time ago, now I have a feeling I can't make anything original :-(
vox vocis thanks for your kind words:-)
I know how you feel as far as originality goes! But you know the old saying "everything old is new again" I actually copied the design of these handcrafted wined earrings slightly modifying them to my own taste.
Thanks for dropping in and leaving a lovely comment.
Agvulpes Hi There. Wow this is an excellent hub on Handcrafted Winged Earrings.
With easy to follow instructions, especially for a beginner.
Maybe if I ask nicely someone that I know fairly well, will make some for me. I hope so anyway.
I really enjoyed reading this hub, The photos are beautiful.
Thanks for sharing it with us. :) :)
oliversmum, it is always a pleasure for me when you visit one of my Hubs :-) and thank you so much for your kind words :-)
I am sure that anyone with a pair of pliers could make a pair of handcrafted earrings!
I'm sure that you would only have to give one of your smiles and tell this person whether you want a pair of angel hand crafted winged earrings or a pair of butterfly hand crafted winged earrings and this person would make them for you :-)
Great instructional article. I especially appreciate the step by step pictures. Thank you for sharing. If your in need of raw materials, stop by my site and let me know what you're looking for.
Tami
Thanks for sharing. One of these days when I have the time, I'll try making this winged earrings. I used to make beaded and crocheted earrings before but now I have been busy with work and taking care of my daughter, I hardly have time even to wear some earrings!
Hand crafts such as this is a perfect way to practice one's creativity and imagination.
PaperNotes thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment.
I hope you do get around to making these winged earrings as I agree with you! Exercising your creativity can be very therapeutic:-)
That's fabulous. I didn't realise how easy it could be... I'll try this sometime soon.
Tarah_ thanks for the kind comment and I have a saying:
If I can YOU can :-)
So get in and have a go Ok
Just ask if you need to know any more information on these handcrafted winged earrings. I am also working on another style :-)
Eye pins
Bead Caps
Crimps
round nose profile
flat nose pliers profile
Side Cutters profile
Feline Prophet 2 years ago
Noble Fox, you are full of surprises! Those are really lovely earrings - sure your wife is thrilled! :)