Retired - Crystal Copper Leaves 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. Begin making these earrings by using the DecoEtch foliage die and the Vintaj Big Kick machine to etch the leaf pattern onto the Vintaj leaf stamping. Please watch the video How to Use the Vintaj BIGkick Machine to Etch and Emboss Metal Stampings to learn how.
2. Take your Vintaj relief block and gently sand your stamping to pull out the details of the etched pattern on your blank. To see how, watch the video Vintaj BIGkick Etched and Embossed Metal Blanks: Finishing Techniques. Also use the Vintaj relief block on the raised details of your Vintaj brass hobnail lumpy bead caps. If you want to make sure that the areas where you used the relief block on stay lighter then the rest of the brass, rub a coat of Renaissance wax over the entire surface, this will keep the colors how they are.
3. Now take 1 Vintaj brass eye pin and open the eye the same way you would open a jump ring. Onto this open loop, place the leaf stamping onto it through the hole at the top. Close the loop back up.
4. Place onto the wire of the head pin 1 brass hobnail bead cap, 1 Austrian crystal crystal 12mm large hole rondelle in crystal copper, and another brass hobnail bead cap. Create a simple wire loop right after the last bead cap. Cut off excess wire with flush cutters.
5. Open the loop at the base of the Vintaj round loop ear wire and link it to the simple loop you made in the previous step above the rondelle and bead cap. Close the loop back up. Check to make sure that your leaf faces forward when you hold your earring in front of you. If it does not, then gently twist around the loop which is holding the leaf to the rest of the earring until the leaf is facing forward.
6. All done!

• BMB-4260 - Vintaj Natural Brass 7mm Hobnail Bumpy Bead Caps (4)
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FEA-6640 - Vintaj Natural Brass Round Loop Ear Wire 25mm (2 Pair)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-5526 - Vintaj Natural Brass Open Eye Pins 21 Gauge 1.5 Inches (20)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• PND-7220 - Vintaj Natural Brass Altered Blank Stamping Trailing Leaf 27x18mm (1)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWC-7803 - Austrian Crystal, 5041 Large Hole Rondelle Beads 12mm, 2 Pieces, Crystal Copper
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-1200 - Sizzix BIGkick Die Cut Machine - Vintaj Special Edition - Cut, Emboss, And Etch!
• XTL-1204 - Vintaj DecoEtch Die For Sizzix Bigkick Machine - Foliage
• XTL-2222 - Vintaj Metal Relief Block For Filing, Buffing & Sanding
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-8004 - Renaissance Wax Metal Polish For Vintaj