Sunday, January 9, 2011

Make Glass & Copper Earrings

Broken Bowl
Today we took some more glass from a broken bowl and some pieces of scrap copper and turned them into earrings.

Materials
22-gauge copper sheet metal
20-gauge round copper wire
Glass

Tools
Diamond hole saw
Diamond drill bits
Acid etching cream
Disc cutter
Mandrel
Wire wrapping tools

Step 1
After: Earrings by GeltDesigns.com
Cut the glass into two disks using a hole saw. Drill a hole in each piece of glass with a diamond-coated drill bit to attach findings. File and sand the glass until the edges are smooth using a diamond file or glass grinder and then wet/dry sandpaper. Etch the glass with acid etch (or by sandblasting).

Step 2
Purchase or cut two copper disks. Cut a hole in each disk so it has a large off-center hole.

Step 3
Make or purchase copper ear wires.

Step 4
Assemble the pieces.


Related Tutorials
How to Drill Glass
How to Acid Etch Glass Beads
How to Use Sand Paper 
How to Use a File for Jewelry Making
How to Use a Disc Cutter
How to Make Your Own Hoop Ear Wires 

Further Reading
"Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques"; Brad Walker; 2000.
"Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition"; Tim McCreight; 2004.
"Contemporary Copper Jewelry w/DVD: Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects"; Sharilyn Miller; 2010.


Day 50.  Month 3.  Jewelry from Found Objects.
Found materials: broken glass, scrap copper
New Jewelry a Day.

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