Anthro Knock-Off Earrings

I'm doing my very first Anthro knock off today! I decided to do what I know best: jewelry!

Edit: These are now available for sale in my etsy shop! Check out the listing HERE. 

I found these earrings online for $38 dollars. Sheesha! 38 bucks for just a couple pieces of wire??

I had everything I needed to make them lying around. And you can too! Here's how!

Supplies

 -Wire: I used 16 gauge and 20 gauge. 

-Jump rings

-Small silver seed beads

-Earring Hooks

-Needle Nose Pliers

-Round Nose Pliers

-Wire Cutters

- Metal Hole Punch Pliers
-Chasing Hammer
-Flat Anvil Jewelers Tool

This project requires some wire work, but don't be scared! It's really very doable. The most intense tools you will need are the hammer, hole punch, and anvil. I linked up to Amazon for very affordable versions of all of these tools. If you are really interested in jewelry making, these tools will take your work to the next level!! wire work. Believe me, it's addicting!

Steps:

Step 1: Cut out various size pieces of 16 gauge wire . Mine ranged from about half an inch to two inches.

Step 2: Use the largest side of your chasing hammer to flatten out the piece of wire on an anvil. Watch out for your finger on the small pieces! You can use tape to hold the wire in place if you would like.

This pictures shows the process of texturing the wire. The first one is the original piece of wire. The second I hammered using the largest side of the chasing hammer. The third I textured with the smaller side of the chasing hammer. 

 The original anthro earrings had a texture more like the middle version, but I decided it to texture it a little more because it makes the silver "sparkle" more and I think looks prettier to wear!

Step 3: Finish hammering all your wire pieces and lay them out how you want it on each earring.

Step 4: Use a wire hole punch (LOVE THIS TOOL) to punch a hole on the top of each wire piece. Set aside.

Step 5: Cut two pieces of 20 gauge wire about five inches long. Create a loop at one end by using needle nose and rounded nose pliers.

Step 6: Gently bend wire into a tear drop shape. Hammer the form lightly with the large side of the chasing hammer so it keeps it shape better,

Step 7: String your earrings with silver seed beads and your hammered wire pieces. Use a small jump ring to connect the wire piece to the earring form.

Step 8: After you are finished stringing on all your pieces, for another round loop on the end of the earring form. (sorry for the blurriness...)

Step 9: Connect it around the original round loop on the other side to close the earring forms.

Step 10: Use two more small jump rings to attach earring hooks onto the earring form

And then you're done!

I had all the supplies laying around, so it didn't cost me anything. If you don't have craft wire on hand, it's really not too expensive if you get aluminum wire (which is what I used)

They look pretty dang similar, eh??

I'll be sharing this with all the link parties in my header including Today's Creative Blog and Christina's Adventures