Textured Leaf Earrings: Simple and Beaded Designs

Thanks to ImpressArt for sponsoring today’s post. All opinions and the earring design are honestly my own.

Friends, one thing I can never get enough of is jewelry! Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings…I love them all. Here’s a super simple project you can do to create a pair of leaf earrings just in time for spring. There’s a basic version and a more advanced beaded version; choose your favorite or make them both!

If you’ve never done metal stamping before, this is a great starter project because it requires very few supplies and you don’t have to worry about lining up letters! You don’t even need an alphabet stamp set. Take a look…

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You’ll Need:

Steel Stamping Block
ImpressArt Leaf With Ring Alkeme Stamping Blanks
ImpressArt Texture Hammer with Sprinkle Design Stamp
Ear Wires
Pliers

Optional {for beaded variation}

Eye Pins
Small Beads
Needle Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters

Step 1: Place the blanks on your stamping block.

Typically when metal stamping, it’s wise to tape the blanks to your block with Stamp Straight Tape so they don’t move around and cause your letters/designs to be misaligned. However, when we’re creating a texture, our goal is just to cover the whole surface, stamping every which way all over the blank. I find it easier to not use tape, because that way I don’t have to go back and redo the section that was taped off.

Step 2: Use the hammer with the texture stamp to create impressions on the blank.

This is a special hammer that allows you to remove and change which stamp it holds. I’m using the sprinkle design stamp that comes with the hammer, but you can easily switch it for another texture if you prefer. To create the design, just repeatedly hit the blank with the hammer until the surface is completely textured. It’s a great way to relieve stress!

Here’s a look at the same blanks without and with the texture. Big difference, right?! Isn’t it amazing what a little pattern can do? If you want the texture to stand out even more, you can apply ImpressArt Stamp Enamel, either from the bottle or the marker, which is now available in four new colors. I loved the look of mine as it is, so I didn’t add any enamel this time.

If you’re making the simple version of this project, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Step 3: Use pliers to open an ear wire.

Personally, I like simple French Ear Wires, but you can use whatever kind you like best.

Step 4: Slide your blank onto the ear wire and use pliers to re-close the loop.

That’s all there is to it! Can you imagine an easier metal stamped project?! You get to repeatedly hit something with a hammer, then stick it on a wire, and voila: you have leaf earrings that are ready to wear, just in time for spring.

If you’d like to take your project one step further and add a bit of color with some small beads, here’s how to do it. Instead of completing step 3, jump to this next step first.

Step 4: Place your bead on an eye pin. Use pliers to form a wire loop.

An eye pin is basically a piece of wire that has a loop on one end. We’re going to form a loop on the other end by wrapping the wire around needle nose pliers, then cutting off the extra. Here’s a tutorial for how to do that if you’re new to this kind of jewelry making.

Step 5: Attach one of the wire loops to an ear wire.

Step 6: Attach your stamped blank to the other wire loop.

You should have an ear wire, a loop, your bead, another loop, and then the leaf, as shown below.

There you have it, a more colorful version of our original pair of earrings! What do you think?

Which style is your favorite? Personally, I’m torn, because I love the look of the beads, but the simple version can be worn with any outfit! Good thing I have both, right?

Did you enjoy today’s project? Be sure to check out these other jewelry tutorials to find all kinds of metal stamped earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.