$0.30 earring! (aka, returning to iron craft)

it's been quite a while since i've been able to participate in an iron craft challenge, so i'm really excited that i managed something this week! even though it's super simple, it's still fun.


this week's theme is taxman, and therefore money. (we're at week 16 already - how did that happen?!)


when i saw the inspiration pics that kat posted, i realized that the theme was the perfect excuse to use the dapping punch set that i bought for last weekend's classes.

i didn't actually use my set during the class, because richard had a really awesome homemade set for larger circles, which is what i was using.


cool, huh? he used supplies from any hardware store, i'm thinking i need to do the same!


however, my basic wooden set is great for small circles.... like coins!

i raided my wallet for dimes, since they're the thinnest coin, and are silver in colour (i knew i wouldn't wear pennies!). i found three dimes, one of which was a special year of the volunteer design. i decided that the special one should be in the centre of the earring, so i used my heavy duty punch to punch 3/32" holes in the dimes - 2 holes in two of them, and 1 hole in the bottom one.



you could punch the holes after shaping them, though it might be a bit trickier. shaping them can change the shape of the holes slightly, so if you want exactly circular holes, you'll want to punch after shaping, not before.


i went outside, which was good, cause this was hella loud, and sofie is scared of ikea bags, much less hammering! i placed a dime face down in the dapping block and used a regular weight hammer to pound the punch, which pushed the dime into the depression in the dapping block.



see??



curved coins!



i pulled out my needlenose pliers and my basic jewelery supplies and used jump rings to join the dimes together. i added a shepherd's hook earring wire and tada! an earring! that only cost you $0.30! maybe closer to $0.40, once you factor in the jump rings and the earring wire, but still.



i should note that i haven't worn matching earrings since i was a kid, so i only made one... however, making a second earring will only take you a few more minutes, this is a super quick project. (if i'd had 6 dimes, i would've made two just to demonstrate, but i only had the 3.)


in addition to wearing mismatching earrings at all times, i also wear tunnels, so regular shepherd's hooks don't exactly fit in my ears. it's a super easy solution though!

i use a pair of jewelery pliers to straighten out the hook - i could just use a piece of wire or an eyepin, but the hooks aren't expensive, and i find that they're generally sturdier than eye pins when you bend them repeatedly. and i like having the little loop, bead and coil on the shepherd's hook.



after the hook is straightened, i use the pliers to bend it into a sharp 45 degree turn. i put that through the tunnel to gauge how long it needs to be, and then i make another 45 degree bend that will hold the earring in place.



easy-peasy. when i'm wearing them, i'll often push the end of the wire towards the front of my ear, so that it looks more like /_| than the open box |_|, just to make it a bit more secure. that's why i like the wire to be a bit stronger and able to bend.