Sunday, September 28, 2014

DIY Wine Cork Ornaments

Okay, so it's still fall - not even Halloween yet.  But I'm still starting to think a bit about Christmas.  I've been wanting to make some unique Christmas holiday ornaments and decided to try making something using wine corks.

This post will show how to make the basic ornament with loops on each end for decorating and hanging ribbon, etc.  On my next post I will show some ideas I come up with on decorating and embellishing the cork.

Here are the supplies I started out with:

  • Heavy gauge wire - I used 16 gauge silver tone
  • Wine corks
  • Round nose pliers
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Bent nose pliers
  • Wire cutters




First use your wire cutters to cut two lengths of wire - each about 3/4 length of the wine cork.



Next you will need to make a simple round loop at one end of each wire.  I will show you how I made mine, but there are great tutorials that explain this step in detail.  I like the tutorial by FireMountainGems.com which can be found here.

Here is how I did it - start by grasping the end of the wire with your round nose pliers:


Then use the round nose pliers to bend the end of the wire toward you.


Continue working the wire into sort of a shepherd's hook as such:


You will end up with something like this:


Now make the "neck" of the loop by the tip of your needle nose pliers through the loop, then bend it back away from the loop:


Here is what your finished wire with loop should look like:

Repeat the same process with your other piece of wire.  Now you have two pieces of wire with simple round loops:


So now you push the pointed end of your wire through one end of the cork:

I find it helpful to use my bent nose pliers to push the wire through the cork - it allows me to use more pressure without hurting my fingers:

Here is what your cork now looks like:


So now insert the second wire through the other end of the cork so that you have loops on both ends:


Now your cork is ready to decorate.  Use one end to attach ribbon or string for hanging your ornament.  On the other end you can put beaded dangles, ribbon, charms or whatever else you want - the possibilities are unlimited!

On my next post I will show you what I come up with to embellish my wine corks, so be sure to check back soon!

Sunday, September 7, 2014

New Jewelry and New Shop


Welcome to all my blogger friends - new and old!  I haven't posted in a while and am feeling the need to get back on my blog.

I've been quite busy with my second Etsy shop Eyeglass Chains Etc. where I'm selling - well what else - eyeglass chains, etc.!  I actually sell eyeglass necklaces, leashes, and ID-Badge lanyards there.  I have found there is really quite a niche in the market for these items.

This shop is doing so well, I decided to open a third niche shop The Earrings Fairy that specializes in - what else - earrings.  Over the years, my earrings have consistently been some of my best sellers in my first Etsy shop DJA Jewels.  So why not create a shop dedicated to earrings?

I thought today I would share a couple of my new items at The Earrings Fairy.

First, here are some modern nugget earrings.  For these I used some beautiful iridescent gold electroplated crystal quartz nuggets along with bronze jeweler's wire and antique gold chain - all suspended from a pair of my own handmade brass earring wires.

Gold Nugget Earrings


Matching Gold Crystal Necklace also available

Next, here is another new design - more in keeping with my past vintage style designs.  These Parasol Pearl Earrings are lavishly beaded with Swarovski crystal pearls.  I used ornate antique brass filigree bead caps to form the "parasol" for a pretty umbrella effect.  Right now I've only made these in Cream and Bordeaux but they could be made in just about any color.

Parasol Pearl Earrings

Parasol Pearl Earrings - Cream


Parasol Pearl Earrings - Bordeaux


I hope you will check out The Earrings Fairy.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

♡ Irene