Ooozey Does it Earrings

Turquoise plastic, mauve flowers and brass mesh combine in interesting, beaded earrings, from AMACO.

See this project and more at Fall Fashion Help: 16 DIY Fall Fashion Trends!

Materials:

• Turquoise and Mauve Friendly Plastic®
• AMACO® WireForm® Brass Designer's Mesh
• Beads
• Pliers
• Earwires
• Silicone glue

Instructions:

1. From the Designer's Mesh cut a strip 12cm x 5 cm (4 3/4" x 2"); this should provide at least 16 long strands of wire in mesh piece.
    
2. Fray both the short ends using pliers until there is only a small amount of mesh left in the middle measuring about 1.5cm (just over 1/2") long. Cut in half lengthways making sure there are 8 long strands of wire in each piece.
   
   
    
3. Heat a small piece of turquoise Friendly Plastic® (a bit wider than mesh area) on top of aluminum foil using heat gun or oven. When soft, position piece of mesh on top of plastic and push down; be careful to avoid touching plastic. Pick up foil and push up from underneath with fingers until warm plastic oozes through the holes in mesh.
   
   
    
4. Use palette knife to ease excess plastic at sides over raw edges of the mesh, sealing them in.
    
5. Heat a small square (0.5cm / less than 1/4") of Mauve plastic with hot water method; position in middle of warm square of Turquoise. Use needle tool to drag in sides of the square to form a small flower; push a bead into center. (This may require tiny amount of glue to secure).
   
   
    
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for other earring.
    
7. Use pliers to twist all wires at one end of each earring into a tight single twist of wire. Twist other end into four twists. Bead and twist four strands as desired, eventually twisting four strands into two, then into one. Add a final bead; coil wire into a loop; push back up into the final bead. A tiny dab of glue will secure it.
   
   
    
8. Coil the single twist of wire at the top of earring into a loop; twist to secure. Curl end onto back of the earrings; cover with small square Turquoise that's already been heated.
   
   
    
9. Finally, attach ear wires; open out loop on ear wire with pliers; thread through earring loop. Close securely.