Spring is officially here!  If you are like me, then you too are ready for warmer weather and sunny days.  With the warmer days, we will see the fluttering dragonflies about.  Let these Sparkling Dragonfly Earrings bring a touch of sparkle to your ears.  In this tutorial, I show you that resin isn’t just for filling bezels; it can be used to accent painted areas of charms too.  These earrings are easy to make, plus the wing and bead colors can be changed to your favorite colors.  Enjoy these earrings….Lisa

Materials:

• Hammered Brass Ring (2)~Trinity Brass
• Baby Dragonfly Charm (2)~Trinity Brass
• Plain loop Earwires (2)~Trinity Brass
• 4mm Round Jumpring (2)
• Brass Eyelets (4)
• 22 Ga Bronze Wire (4”)
• 4mm Cream Luster Beads (2)
• Tear drop Beads Brown Luster 10/8mm (2)

Tools:

Round Nose Pliers, Flat Nose Pliers, Chain Nose Pliers, Cutters, Metal Hole Punch, Eyelet Setter, Nail Buffer, Wood stir stick

Other Supplies:

Brown craft paint, gold glitter, EnviroTex Jewelry Resin

Instructions:

1. Paint the wings of the dragonfly charm with brown paint. Set aside to dry. If needed, paint a second coat.

2. Mix Envirotex Jewelry Resin according to manufacture instructions. Place dragonfly charms on wax paper. Use wood stir stick to apply resin to just the wings. Immediately sprinkle gold glitter over resin. Set aside to dry according to manufacture directions for resin.

3. To give the hammered disk a distress look, lightly buff it with the nail buffer until the desired look is achieved. Use the metal punch to make a second hole in the hammered ring, directly across from the existing one. Place an eyelet in one hole and secure with eyelet tool. (If eyelet does not fit through the hole, use a bead reamer to make the hole larger) This will be the bottom hole. Place an eyelet through the top ring on the dragonfly charm, then through the top hole on the hammered ring. Use eyelet tool to secure.

4. Cut a 2 inch strip of wire. Run the end of the wire through the tear drop bead and make a wrapped loop. Do not cut the long end. Add a 4mm bead to wire, and then run the wire through the bottom eyelet, on the hammered ring. Bend the wire to make a loop. Finish off by making a wrapped end.

5. Open jumpring and add to the top eyelet. Close. Open second jumpring and add to the previous one. Open loop on earwire and add to the jumpring.

*Repeat all steps for second earring*

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These earrings can easily be customized to your favorite colors, by changing the paint, glitter and bead colors.  What color would you use to make these dragonfly earrings?  ~ Lisa