DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorial

copper Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorial

I love upcycling and repurposing and I written about them many times on this blog. I also love using uncommon objects in jewellery. Particularly, after reading Julia Manheim’s book sustainable jewellery, I find myself critiquing concepts of value and preciousness whenever I make jewellery. The other day, I stumbled upon these gorgeous Copper tongue cleaners at the checkout counter at a home goods store. I was so excited by them and created a pair of stunning, lightweight earrings. Here is the DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorials, for all of you to read and enjoy.

make copper Lapis Lazuli earrings

DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings

These copper tongue cleaners have a flattened middle and a rod like ends that make them highly adaptable to jewellery. I found very cheap ones (2 for half a dollar) but you can get 6 of them on amazon for $6 (see link below). You might ask me what made me put Lapis Lazuli beads on a tongue cleaner. I blame it this moment of pure genius (or pure crazy) on the all the critical discussions around contemporary art jewellery that I have been reading these days. For those interested in this topic, I highly recommend Contemporary jewelry in perspective by Damian Skinner.

DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings1

Materials

  • Copper tongue cleaners – 2
  • Copper wire for wrapping –  26g
  • Lapis Lazuli teardrops – 2
  • Tools – Step nose pliers, Wire cutter, Nose pliers, cylindrical bottle cap or a mandrel

wire earrings tutorial

Method

  1. Gently open out your tongue cleaner and wrap it around a mandrel or bottle lid on the curved side.
  2. Press the sides so that you get a basket like shape when you take the mandrel away.
  3. Mark 2″ on one side of the round (un-flattened wire) and 1.5″ on the other side. Using your wire cutters cut the excess wire.
  4. Using your round nose pliers curve the end into loops.

Tongue cleaner earrings tutorial

5. Wrap both loops together as shown using 26g. Cut and tuck in the excess wire on the back.Your frame is now ready. Repeat steps 1-5 to make one more frame.
6. Cut 3+ inches of 26g wire. Thread a Lapis Lazuli bead onto it and wrap the wire an equal number of times on both sides of the frame. Cut and tuck in the excess wire. Repeat to create a pair of earrings.
7. Make your own ear hooks using 20g copper wire or add store bought ear hooks to the top loop of the frame to create a pair of lightweight copper earrings.

copper Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorial

I hope you enjoyed my DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorial. More tutorials will be coming in your way this holiday season, so stay tuned.

I hope you found it interesting
Cheers

8 responses to “DIY Lapis Lazuli earrings tutorial”

  1. Rozantia Petkova avatar

    Tongue cleaners? No way! This is the first time I heard about them but what an incredibly convenient material for jewelry making – comes pre-cut to the same size and is flat for adding more dimension. Absolutely fantastic idea to make these earrings and Lapis Lazuli looks so good with copper! The books you recommended are incredibly enlightening!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Haaa..Thank you – I was “tongue tied” too when I saw them at the store counter. Now I wish I had bought the whole packet instead of just two.

  2. Maya Kuzman avatar

    They are beautiful Divya! And so wonderfully easy to make following your instructions!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Great, I got a real kick out of making them. Do try them out too.

  3. Hope Smitherman avatar

    I think I’ve heard of tongue cleaners before, but have never seen them. What a neat little device. I’m smitten with how you decided to transform them! Way to repurpose!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      I remember going crazy over tongue cleaners as a kid- they were flat like a nail file patterned on one side then (probably it was lead paint but who knew or who cared). Its interesting how you have never come across them before. But these copper ones are more suited to jewellery and other ornaments.

  4. Deepa Gopal avatar

    That’s such an interesting choice and ‘turn of events’ Divya! Love the copper and blue! Have always loved Lapis lazuli; it’s such an important ‘blue’ for us artists with mystical power, vision and the enchanting wisdom keeper as it’s said! Good that you go through various sources to enhance your experience.

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Very True Deepa! Lapis Lazuli as a colour and a dye has a long and eventful history and is entwined with art and culture.

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