Make Wine Cup Earrings

Before: Toy Wine Cups

These little wine cups are of undetermined origin. We found them in the basement when we were sorting out the toy box. My daughter thinks they once belonged to her Fisher-Price dollhouse set. My sons think they were from a LEGO® set gifted to them from their cousins. The DH has no idea and contributes to the debate by shaking his head and muttering about all the money spent on no longer loved toys.

Bottom line: I have no idea where these little yellow wine goblets came from... but there are two of them. They match ...and we all agreed they would make fun, very cute earrings.

After: Earrings by GeltDesigns.com

Materials
2 matching toy wine goblets
20-gauge round wire in brass, copper, sterling silver, silver plate, silver colored or gold filled

Tools
Nylon jaw pliers
Chain nose pliers
Needle files (optional)
Round nose pliers or

Gather your tools

Wire looping pliers
Wire cutters
Ear wire jig or WigJig
Flex shaft and 19 gauge cup bur or wire rounder
Plastic mallet

Step 1
Use your nylon jaw pliers to straighten and harden the 20-gauge round wire.

Feed wire; make loop.

Step 2
Feed the wire through a plastic toy wine glass. Make a small loop at the end of the wire.

Step 3
Make a loop at the top of the wine glass. Wrap the wire three times to secure the loop. Use a needle file or your chain nose pliers to file the end of the wire smooth.
Step 4
Make a second wire wrapped loop at the end of the wire and connect the two loops together. Again, wrap the wire three times to secure the loop.

Step 5
Place the second of the two wire wrapped loops on the ear wire jig. Wrap the wire to create the ear wire finding. Cut the wire at the peg.

Step 6
Remove the ear wire from the jig. Bend the wire at the end of the finding so it is parallel with the loop.

Step 7
Hit the ear wire with the plastic mallet to harden the wire and ensure it retains its shape when handled, used and worn. Adjust the wire with your pliers, if needed, to ensure the best shape for your finding.

Make second earrings

Step 8
File the end of the ear wire so it is smooth and comfortable when worn.


Step 9
Repeat to create matching earring.


Related Tutorials
Make Earrings from an iTunes Gift Card
How to Straighten Wire
How to Measure Wire
How to Use a Wire Gauge 
How to Make an Ear Wire Jig  
How to Use a Flex Shaft to Make Jewelry 
How to Smooth Sharp Wire Edges 

Further Reading
"30-Minute Earrings: 60 Quick & Creative Projects for Jewelers"; Marthe Le Van; 2010.
"500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry (500 Series)"; Lark; 2007.

Day 73.  Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: toys
New Jewelry a Day.