Simply Beads newsletter

Copper Rounds

Design by Anne Lgou

Use scissors to cut copper? Who knew it could be so easy! Fashion your own copper rounds for these stunning disk earrings featuring Swarovski crystals.

Materials

  • Medium-weight copper soft metal sheet
  • Clear Swarovski crystal beads:
    • 2 (12mm) bicone
    • 12 (7mm) cones
  • 2 (2mm) copper round beads
  • 12 (4mm) copper heishe beads
  • 14 copper head pins
  • 2 copper ear wires
  • Ammonia
  • Face mask
  • Airtight plastic container
  • Spray bottle
  • Paper towels
  • Circle cutters: 3/4- and 2-inch
  • 3-inch-square piece of felt
  • Steel bench block
  • Ball-peen hammer
  • Needle tool
  • Ball stylus
  • Round-nose pliers
  • Wire nippers
  • Scissors

Finished Sizes
2 3/4 inches long

Project note: When working with ammonia, wear a face mask and work in a well-ventilated area to prevent exposure to chemical fumes.

Instructions

1) Place a 5 x 3-inch piece of copper sheet into airtight plastic container; fill spray bottle with ammonia and spray a fine mist onto copper sheet. Seal container for one hour. Remove copper sheet and wipe off excess ammonia with paper towels.
2) Place felt on steel bench block; lay copper sheet on top of felt and hammer entire sheet until desired effect is achieved.
3) Place 2-inch circle cutter on top of copper sheet and trace around cutter, pressing into the copper with ball stylus. Cut out circle with scissors. Repeat to make another copper circle.
4) Place 3/4-inch circle cutter on top of one cutout circle approximately 1/4 inch from top. In the same manner as in step 3, trace and cut out circle, forming a hoop. Repeat for other copper circle.
5) Use needle tool to poke two small holes through a hoop, one positioned just above center top of cutout circle and the other directly above first hole 1/16 inch from top edge. Poke six additional holes along bottom edge of hoop 1/8 inch from edge. Repeat for other hoop.
6) Slide a copper heishe bead and a clear cone bead on a head pin; use round-nose pliers to form a loop above top bead. Trim excess wire. Repeat 11 additional times.
7) Open loops on beaded head pins and attach to holes along bottom edge of hoops. Close loops.
8) Slide a clear bicone bead and a copper round bead on a head pin; form a loop above top bead. Trim excess wire. Open loop and attach to hole just above cutout circle, so head pin dangles in center of hoop. Close loop. Repeat for other hoop.
9) Open loops on ear wires and attach to top holes on hoops; close loops.

Source: Copper sheet from American Art Clay Co.; crystal beads, copper beads, ear wires and head pins from Jewelry Supply Inc.

Copyright © July 2007 Simply Beads magazine. All rights reserved.


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Happy Beading!

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Barb Switzer
Editor, Simply Beads magazine
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