Create Sassy Little Wire Ladies for a Pendant, a Charm or a Pair of Earrings

I love these little wire ladies. They are sassy and creative and crafty just like me. When you make them, you can add the beads that give yours a unique personality. They are so versatile, you can wear them as a pendant dangled from a chain or a cord. You can make two for a sassy pair of earrings. Best of all, these little wire ladies are simple to make with basic jewelry-making tools. From start to finish they'll take about 30 minutes. Here's what you'll need to create a pair of earrings.

Materials

• 20 gauge wire
• 2 small tube beads
• 2 small round beads
• 24 or 26 gauge wire (optional)
• 1 pair of ear-wires

Tools

• Needle nose pliers
• Round Nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Hammer and anvil or metal block (optional)
• Sand paper or a thick, cushioned emery file like from a beauty supply store

Cut your wire

Cut the following lengths for these parts:

• 2 eye pins - 2 inch pieces
• 2 legs - 1 & 3/4 inch pieces
• 2 arms - 1 & ¼ inch pieces
• 2 skirts - 2 ½ inch pieces

Create your sassy wire ladies

Eye pins

• Form an eye pin by bending the bottom 3/8 inch of your wire piece to a right angle.
• Grasp the tip with your round nose pliers.
• Roll pliers into the bent wire to form a circle.
• See the article "Make a Wire Bracelet Even a Grandma Can Love" for tips on making loops and finding your wire-making rhythm.

Wire legs

• Use your round nose pliers to curve your leg pieces into a narrow U shape.
• Curve indentations on both sides to make a closed loop.
• The leg pieces should resemble keyholes with an open bottom.
• Form knees by bending an angle half way down each side.
• Form feet by bending angles near the bottoms.
• Gently flatten your legs. (optional)
• Strike the feet a little harder and the metal will spread out a little. (They'll look more like feet.)
• Smooth rough edges with sand paper or an emery file.

Wire arms

• Form arms by curving the wire at the middle point to form a narrow U.
• For "hands," curve small loops at the ends of each of the arm pieces.
• Gently hammer the arms flat, but avoid the curved part.
• Hold the curve with the tip of your round nose pliers.
• Curve one "arm" to the opposite side.
• Do the same with the other until you've formed a closed loop.

Wire skirts

• Make 2 swirls by following the directions in "What Can You Make With a Simple Swirl."
• To finish the swirls, instead of curving the loop opposite the swirl, turn it back toward it.
• Hammer the skirts flat.
• Place your round nosed pliers inside the center hole of a swirl.
• Gently push it outward until the swirl resembles a skirt.
• Curve the end loop beneath the bottom of the skirt.

Put your sassy wire ladies together

• Open your eye pin loops, add legs, then close the eye pin.
• Slip the skirts over the eye pins.
• Add tube beads for the body.
• Place arms on top of your tube bead bodies.
• Add head beads.
• Form loops at the top.
• For a sturdier lady, form the loop, then turn the remaining wire around and around the eye pin just above the head.
• Use your round nose pliers to curve one arm up and one arm down... like a dancer.
• Add ear-wires and you'll have a pair of sassy, wire lady earrings.

A few sassy wire ladies options

• Give your ladies a curly hairdo with a six inch piece of 24 or 26 gauge wire. Starting form the middle of the wire, wrap it tightly, twice around the eye pin to hold it in place just above the head.
• Form curls with round nose pliers.
• For a whimsical pendant, add a jump ring or small bail and dangle from a cord or chain.
• For a larger version, double the size of your wire pieces. Use larger beads for the body and head.
• For a smaller version, cut the wire smaller. Use miniature pliers to work smaller.

Now that you have the basic technique, you can customize your sassy wire ladies with different colors and stones. Create them with or without hair. Make them in sterling silver, copper or whatever metal you choose. Add tiny beads to the hair. Have fun with them. Be sassy, creative and crafty like me.

Source: My personal whimsical wire jewelry projects