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CAGE STUD EARRINGS

This tutorial shows how to make two kinds of stud earrings using cage design. They are both great for
everyday wear, very comfortable, original, looking elegant but also funky on ears. The earrings presented in
this tutorial were made with round half hard copper wire and 5 mm stones and beads- turquoise stones and
red glass beads.

Skill level- Easy

Tools and supplies:

1. 21 cm (about 8.27 inch) of 20 gauge (0.8 mm) round half hard (rather softer than harder) wire for a pair
of the simple cage stud earrings.
2. 46 cm (about 18.1 inch) of 20 gauge (0.8 mm) round half hard (rather softer than harder) wire for a pair
of the dangle cage stud earrings.
This tutorial shows copper wire but it can also be silver, brass or crafts wire.
3. Beads or stones of your choosing: 5 mm (about 0.2 inch) in diameter each.
This tutorial shows turquoise stones and red glass beads.
4. Earnuts for stud earrings.
5. Nylon jaw pliers.
6. Chain nose pliers.
7. Round nose pliers.
8. Flush cutters.
9. Rubber mallet.
10. Steel bench block.
11. Metal file.
12. Ruler.
13. Marker/ felt-tip pen.

THERE ARE 2 PARTS IN THE TUTORIAL:

2. STEPS 1 - 9 (pages 2 - 4) - Making the Cage Stud Earrings

3. STEPS 1A - 9A (pages 5 - 7) - Making the Dangle Cage Stud Earrings

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 1
 PART 1 - MAKING THE CAGE STUD EARRINGS, STEPS 1 - 9
photo 1 photo 2 photo 3

10.5 cm
4 cm 4 cm 2.5 cm

A B C

STEP 1
Cut about 10.5 cm (about 4.1 inch) of 20 gauge (0.8 mm) half hard wire (the wire should be rather softer than
harder), smooth and straighten it with the nylon pliers. The tutorial shows copper wire.
Measure two points on the wire: 4 cm (1.6 inch) - POINT B and 8 cm (3.1 inch) - POINT C and mark the points
with the marker /felt-tip pen on the wire. The beginning point of the wire will be named as POINT A (photo 1).
Next hold the wire end POINT A with the tips of your round nose pliers (photo 2) to start making a loose spiral.
Gently start rotating your pliers creating little loop/circle at the end of the wire (photo 3).

photo 4 photo 5 photo 6 photo 7

STEP 2
Take your time, this first circle is very important as the whole spiral will be formed around it, try to make it as
nicely circular as possible (photo 4). Reposition your pliers and press the wire tail with your fingers to make
another part/coil of the spiral (photo 5). Try to make your spiral coils loose.
Take your little spiral off the round nose pliers and gently hold it with your chain nose pliers using your dominant
hand and with your non-dominant hand’s thumb or index finger press the wire tail along the developing spiral.
This will create another part/coil for the spiral (photo 6). Reposition your pliers to hold the next part of the
spiral and make another part/coil (photo 7).

photo 8 photo 9 photo 10

C
B C

B B
STEP 3
The spiral is ready when it reaches the previously marked POINT B. The finished spiral should look as per
photo 8 and the whole piece should look at this stage like on photo 9. Next hold the piece with your chain
nose pliers at POINT C (photo 10).

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 2
 photo 11 photo 12 photo 13

C
C

B B

STEP 4
Using your chain nose pliers bend the wire 90 degrees at POINT C as shown on photos 11 and 12. The bent
wire should be perpendicular to the plane/surface of the spiral. Next hold the bent point with the very tips of
your round nose pliers - the shorter part of the wire should be facing down along the pliers, and the longer
part should go horizontally perpendicular to the pliers (photo 13). At this point we will start making the second
spiral, in the opposite direction to the first one. The arrow on photo 13 shows the direction in which the second
spiral should be coiled.

photo 14 photo 15 photo 16 photo 17

STEP 5
Rotate your pliers, to start making the spiral, the short perpendicular wire end should stay still along the
pliers, facing down (photo 14, 15). Coil the spiral similarly as the first one, until it will “meet” the first spiral at
POINT B as per photo 17. The two spirals with a perpendicular 2.5 cm wire should look as per photo 17.

photo 18 photo 19 photo 20 photo 21

STEP 6
The next two steps are a little tricky, so take your time to make them precisely. Thread your stone (the stone
should be 5 mm (about 0.2 inch) in diameter) on the perpendicular wire end (photo 18). We need to pass the
wire end through the middle circle of the other spiral. To do so, gently bend the wire as per photo 19 and pass
it through the middle of the spiral as per photos 20 and 21. At this point don’t worry about the wire getting
distorted, we will fix it later.

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 3
 photo 22 photo 23 photo 24

STEP 7
At this point we need to bend/fold the spiral (the one with the wire passing through it) and at the same time
we need to gently pull the wire using the chain nose pliers. This step is illustrated on photos 22, 23 and 24.

photo 25 photo 26 photo 27 photo 28

STEP 8
Now we can fix/ straighten the wire. Use your chain nose pliers to gently press the wire (photo 25) and your
nylon pliers to smooth and straighten it as well (photo 26). Next we need to stretch/ unfold the wires of the
spirals bringing/ arranging them evenly to the middle of the stone. Use your nails/ fingers/ pliers as per photos
27 and 28. You can use both hands simultaneously to “stretch” the wires on both sides of the stone. Take
your time, nicely arrange the wires to create a nice, regular cage.

photo 29 photo 30 photo 31 photo 32

1cm

STEP 9
As the last step, cut the wire leaving about 1 cm (0.4 inch), as presented on photo 29. File the wire end (photo
30). At the end you can place the wire end on the steel bench block and tap it with your rubber mallet - that will
make the wire harder (photo 31). Add the earnuts and your simple cage stud earrings are ready (photo 32).

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 4
 PART 2 - MAKING THE DANGLE CAGE STUD EARRINGS, STEPS 1A - 9A
photo 1a photo 2a photo 3a
12.5 cm
5 cm 5 cm 2.5 cm

A B C B

STEP 1A
This part of the tutorial shows how to make the Dangle Cage Stud Earrings. The main principals will stay the
same as per Part 1- Simple Cage Stud Earrings. Cut about 12.5 cm (about 5 inch) of 20 gauge (0.8 mm) half
hard wire (the wire should be rather softer than harder), smooth and straighten it with the nylon pliers. The
tutorial shows copper wire.
Measure two points on the wire: 5 cm (2 inch) - POINT B and 10 cm (4 inch) - POINT C and mark the points
with the marker /felt-tip pen on the wire. The beginning point of the wire will be named as POINT A (photo 1a).
This time before making the spirals we will make a little loop at POINT B. Hold the wire at POINT B with the
tips of your round nose pliers (photo 2a) and bend the wire along the pliers (photo 3a).

photo 4a photo 5a photo 6a

STEP 2A
Now cross the wires as per photo 4a. Hold the loop with your chain nose pliers and twist the wires with your
fingers (photo 5a). Next we will coil the spirals exactly as per Simple Cage Stud Earrings, but this time their
“meeting” point will be the loop. The spirals should be perpendicular to the loop and “meet” at the loop.
Photo 6a shows zoomed in loop from its down side. The arrows show in which directions the spirals should
be coiled.

photo 7a photo 8a photo 9a

STEP 3A
Coil the first spiral starting from POINT A (for coiling the spiral refer to STEP 2 form Part 1). At this stage your
first spiral and the loop should look as presented on photos 7a, 8a, 9a.

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 5
 photo 10a photo 11a photo 12a

C C

STEP 4A
Using your chain nose pliers bend the wire 90 degrees at POINT C (photos 10a and 11a). The bent wire
should be perpendicular to the plane/ surface of the spiral and it should be made in the opposite direction to
the loop.
Next hold the bent point with the very tips of your round nose pliers - the shorter part of the wire should be
facing down along the pliers, and the longer part should go horizontally perpendicular to the pliers (photo
12a). At this point we will start making the second spiral, in the opposite direction to the first one, but in the
same plane as the first one. The arrow on photo 12a shows the direction in which the second spiral should
be coiled.

photo 13a photo 14a photo 15a

STEP 5A
Coil the second spiral with the perpendicular wire in its middle point, do it similarly as described in STEP 5
from Part 1. At this point the piece should look as presented on photos 13a, 14a, 15a.

photo 16a photo 17a photo 18a

STEP 6A
Next follow STEPS 6 and 7 from Part 1 to place the stone and to close it within a cage, photos 16a, 17a, 18a.

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 6
 photo 19a photo 20a photo 21a photo 22a

1cm

STEP 7A
Next follow STEP 8 from Part 1 to straighten the wire end and to unfold the spirals’ wires making the cage
(photo 19a). Using your chain nose pliers straighten the loop making sure it is nicely aligned withe the cage,
perpendicular to the wire end (photo 20a, 21a). At the end cut the wire leaving about 1 cm (0.4 inch) - photo
22a. Harden and file the wire end as per STEP 9 from Part 1.

photo 23a photo 24a photo 25a photo 26a

7mm

STEP 8A
Now we need to make a caged bead to hang it on previously made stud earring with a loop. Make a cage
exactly as Simple Cage Stud Earrings (photo 23a). Bend the wire to one side and cut it leaving 7 mm
(0.3 inch) - photo 24a. Next hold the end point of the wire with the tips of your round nose pliers (photo 25a).
Rotate the pliers to make a little loop (photo 26a). Make sure the loop is nicely closed.

photo 27a photo 28a photo 29a

STEP 9A
Next open the loop - the important thing to remember is that when you are opening or closing a loop (or a
jump ring) you should hold each side of the opening with a pair of pliers (photo 27a). Then bring one pair of
pliers towards you so the loop opens - to close, reverse the action. This way you will not distort the circular
shape of a loop. With the loop opened, slide your caged bead onto the previously made cage earring with a
loop and close the loop (photos 28a). Your finished dangle cage stud earrings should look like the ones on
photo 29a.

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 7
 JUSTYNAJEWELLERY TUTORIAL POLICY

1. This tutorial including the design, all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery.

2. This tutorial, or any part of it may not be duplicated, reproduced, distributed, published in any way
or lent without explicit written permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery.

3. You can use this JustynaJewellery tutorial to learn new techniques and create new designs using
the technique. Please give credit to the designer either by saying “made using a JustynaJewellery
tutorial” or if you changed the design: “inspired by a JustynaJewellery tutorial”.

4. This tutorial is for personal use only- you may sell the jewellery made from this tutorial, but it must
be made by you and cannot be mass produced by you or by your employees.

5. You may not teach this tutorial in live classes without JustynaJewellery written permission.

6. You may not teach this tutorial online, even if you create it using your own text and images.

Thank you for respecting the JustynaJewellery tutorial policy.

If you have any further questions regarding the tutorial or the JustynaJewellery tutorial policy please
contact me at justyna@justynajewellery.com

This tutorial including all images and text is the property of JustynaJewellery. No part of this tutorial may
be distributed, published or copied without explicit permission given by the designer- JustynaJewellery
web: www.JustynaJewellery.com - email: justyna@justynajewellery.com - March 2013
page 8