As I’m getting ready to post this tutorial it is snowing. Even so it is closer and closer to spring so why not make something bright and cheery in honor of the upcoming season? These recycled sunflower champagne cork earrings are so easy to create when you follow the step-by-step instructions. They are sure to start a conversation wherever you go so why not make a pair or two today?
You will need:
Champagne corks
X-acto or craft knife
Glass from an old picture frame for cutting the corks on
Heavy corrugated cardboard and waxed paper to cover your
work surface
Small paintbrush
Acrylic paint- (I used Martha Stuart Satin) Chamomile,
Pollen, Jonquil, Chestnut brown, and black
Gloss acrylic finish
Gloss acrylic finish
Ultra Fine point sharpie marker
Fine sandpaper
Drill with small bit
Awl or nail
Green E-sized seed beads
Tacky glue
2 inch head pins
Fish hook ear wires
Round nosed pliers
1.
Working on a protected surface (glass from old picture frame) and using a craft knife,
carefully cut the top portion (at the neck area) off the cork. Cork
is very easy to cut if you use a rocking motion with the craft knife while
pushing downward. Repeat with a second cork. You will have two
discs.
2.
Rub both sides of the corks on a piece of fine sandpaper to
smooth. Use the sandpaper to sand off any writing on the top of the
cork since you will be painting on it.
3.
Place the disc on its side on heavy cardboard and drill a hole
all the way through it. Use an awl or
nail to widen the hole if necessary.
4.
Working
on the front of the disc use a sharpie marker to make a largish circle in the
center. Make leaves around the circle
shape with pointed tips. This will be
your painting guide. (See photo) Don't worry about being perfect, flowers aren't perfect either :-)
5.
Fill in
the petals with the Chamomile color. While
the paint is still wet, add some strokes of the pollen color. Continue until you have painted all the
petals. Let dry.
6.
Fill in
the center of the flower with chestnut brown.
While it is still wet make small dots with black paint all around the
edges of the center. Make the edges
jagged and even overlap on the petals slightly. (See photo) Continue adding black in a smaller circle in
the center of the brown circle. Let
dry.
7.
Add
teeny dots of jonquil to the center circle of the flower. Let dry.
8.
Use some
black paint thinned with water and a tiny brush to outline the petals and add a
few lines to the base of the petals.
(See photo) When all the paint has dried, brush on some gloss acrylic finish to protect the flower. You may want to turn it over and paint a sunflower on the other side as well.
9.
Thread a green E bead on a 2-inch head pin and insert in the
bottom of the hole you made in the cork till it comes out the opposite
end. Dab a tiny dot of glue at the base where the head pin exits and thread
another E bead on the protruding head pin. (The glue will help to hold the bead
stationary) Add a fishhook ear wire making sure it is facing the correct
direction, and then use the round nosed pliers along to bend the wire to the left
and then curl around to the base to close the loop. (See photo)
Oh wow!!! The earrings are soooo pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis is so unique!
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