Wire Heart Ring Tutorial

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I was inspired to make a cute little wire heart ring! Our new Amoracast heart charms make this project super easy!! The ring works up so fast that you could whip up a bunch in no time. It would be the perfect Galentine's gift for all your BFFs!

.

You will need:

Medium Sterling Silver Amoracast Heart (1)

18 gauge Sterling Silver Wire (3")

Ring Mandrel

Rubber/Plastic Hammer or Rawhide Mallet

Wire Cutters

Round Nose Pliers

Flat Nose Pliers or Needle/Chain Nose Pliers

Nylon Jaw Pliers (Optional)

.

1. Place the Amoracast heart on the ring mandrel at the size you would like the ring to be. With the rubber side of the rubber/plastic hammer or a rawhide mallet begin hammering the heart. This will both curve the heart into the ring shape and slightly work harden it.

.

2. Continue hammering the heart until it is fully formed around the mandrel.

.

3. If needed, use the nylon jaw pliers to straighten and smooth out the 18 gauge wire. The smoother it is to start, the better! Grasp one end of the wire with the round nose pliers.

.

4. Roll the pliers until the end of the wire touches the wire, creating a loop.

.

5. With the loop facing away from the ring mandrel, place the wire on the mandrel at the size you would like the ring to be.

.

6. Curve the wire around the ring mandrel, forming it to the ring size you want it to be.

.

7. Use flat nose pliers to twist open the loop you made at the end of the wire.

.

8. Slide the loop from the heart charm onto the wire loop and use the flat nose pliers to twist the loop closed. Make sure the heart charm is curved outward so it continues the curve shape of the ring.

.

9. Hold the wire and heart charm on the ring mandrel at the desired size. Use pressure to hold it snug. Cut the wire slightly past where the wire and the heart charm overlap.

.

10. Repeat steps 3-4 to create a loop on the other end of the wire with the loop facing away from the curve of the ring.

.

11. Repeat steps 7-8 to connect this second loop to the bottom end of the heart charm.

.

12. Slide the ring on to the ring mandrel to perfect the shaping. Use the rubber hammer or rawhide mallet if needed to curve it or work harden it.

.

13. Voila! Here is the finished Wire Heart Ring:

.

Super easy right?? I love how modern and simple it is, but you could also jazz it up by wire wrapping beads either around the outside of the heart or through the interior. It would also be cute to convert this idea into a bangle - you would just need a longer piece of wire and a bracelet mandrel or something oval/round to shape the wire around. For a bangle, make a larger hook on one end instead of the small loop so you can use it to open and close your bangle.

Happy Beading!!