DIY Network

Recycle, Reuse, Reward: Mother-of-Pearl Earrings by Jackie Guerra From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-506

Tiny antique baby buttons made of mother of pearl are little jewels in themselves, so why not use them that way? Host Jackie Guerra creates an earring by using wire to drop a beautiful button from the loop of an ear wire, and then she adds some tiny dangles made from delicate beads and more buttons.

Experience Level: Advanced

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Host Jackie Guerra creates gorgeous earrings out of an old pair of mother-of-pearl buttons.

Materials --

2 small mother-of-pearl buttons
16g gold French lever back ear wires
26g gold wire
6 fine gold headpins
2 small gold jump rings
Eight 3mm diamond crystals
Two 4mm diamond crystals
HypoCement glue

Tools --

Wire cutters
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Jump ring pliers

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Mother-of-Pearl Earrings

1. Select two small buttons, one for each earring -- two hole buttons work best.

2. Using two 2" lengths of gold wire and the round nose pliers, prepare two wire wrapped 3mm crystals with a loop on either side. Don't entirely close the loops; set aside.

3. Cut two 5" lengths of gold wire and run a 4mm crystal on the center of each. With the flat nose pliers, bend it at 90 degrees close to the crystal on each side (figure A).

4. Thread each end through a hole in the button and seat the crystal snugly upright on the button (figure B).

5. For each button, bend each end of wire away from the center. Using the round nose pliers, create a loop with a tail. Wrap the tail around the wire and cut off the excess. Do this for both ends of the wire on both buttons.

6. Using the headpins, the remaining 3mm crystals, and the round nose pliers, create small bead bangles with tiny loops at the top (figure C).

7. Open one jump ring, and attach three crystal dangles onto one loop of the button. Repeat for the other button.

8. Link the button to the ear wire with the wire-wrapped crystal you made in Step 2. Be careful to be sure that the button hangs from the ear wire so that its crystal faces forward. You can twist the loops a little bit if necessary.

9. Make sure all the joints stay snug by adding a tiny drop of glue to each.

RESOURCES :

Beads, crystals, pearls, jump rings, head pins & tools
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
Website: www.firemountaingems.com

Euro Tool, Inc.
Website: www.eurotool.com