"Magic" Studio Ghibli Earrings
Introduction: "Magic" Studio Ghibli Earrings
In the Studio Ghibli movies, there is a set of earrings (or very similar earrings) that are worn by various characters, most of which are magic types. Characters who are seen wearing these are <PERSON>'s mother, <PERSON> (<PERSON>'s Delivery Service) <PERSON> (<PERSON>'s Moving Castle), <PERSON>'s mom, <PERSON> (<PERSON>), and <PERSON> ( <PERSON> of The Valley of the Wind). The earrings are a red, teardrop dangle. I don't know if there is any specific connection, but I noticed it was a common theme.
If you want a subtle way to sport your love of Studio Ghibli movies, these earrings may magically give you the answer!
I will show two different ways to make these earrings.
Supplies
Version 1: With Glass
1. Two glass teardrop pendants in red
2. Round nosed pliers
3. Copper wire in 24 gage (or bigger, depending on preference, I want mine to be practically invisible).
4. Gold earring hooks
Version 2: With Clay
1. Clay in red (or you can paint it) *polymer clay or air dry
2. Eye pin
3. Various clay tools (if needed), I recommend a roller and stylus tool, but I'm not actually going to use any tools.
3. Varnish OR TLS, depending on if using air dry or polymer clay
4. Soft pastel in red
5. Toothpick or other tool for scraping off and mixing pastel
6. Soft brush
7. 95
Gold earring hooks or post earrings for diy earrings
8. Pliers
Step 1: V1: With Glass
First, grip the end of the copper wire at the very base of your round nosed pliers. Wrap the wire twice around the base, then move the wrapped wire a bit up the plier nose and wrap again. Keep moving the wire upward while wrapping until you have a small spiral when you pull the wire off.
Pull the spiral off and grip it with the pliers. The wire that comes from the center should be bent upwards so the spiral forms a little foot or base.
Step 2: Add the Bead
Measure your wire by holding the glass bead next to the wire.The spiral will be at the bottom of the bead . Cut the wire with excess for making an eye loop.
Slide the glass teardrop bead on the wire.
Grip the wire that comes from the top of the bead, pulling until the spiral is snug against the base of the bead. With the pliers, bend the wire to a horizontal position. Wrap the wire around the plier to make a small loop.
Wrap the excess wire around the base of this loop until all the wire is used (you can tuck the tail inside the bead if you prefer).
Do this step for both beads.
Step 3: Add Earring Hooks
Add earring hooks by twisting the loop on the earrings sideways to open the loop (don't wrench it open). Slide the copper wire loop onto the gold loop and then close the gold loop.
You are finished!
Step 4: V2: With Clay
Take a ball of red clay and shape it into a teardrop shape by rolling it and pinching it with your finger. It should be about as long as an American quarter is wide.
Poke the eyepin into the top of the tear shape.
Make two.
Let the clay dry or bake as your clay instructs.
Step 5: Add Earring Hooks
Open the earring loop by twisting it sideways with the pliers. Don't pull the loop open; twist it.
Add the pendant and then close the loop by twisting it back to its original position.
Step 6: Colored Varnish
I get a little bit of the Triple Thick on a container lid and then scrape pastel onto the varnish. I mix the pastel dust thoroughly with the varnish so there are no flecks of pastel dust.
Then just apply it with a soft brush. I do several coats to try to give it a bit of a "glass" appearance. Let it dry for a day at least between coats, otherwise it will remain tacky.
If you like, you can mix up a good amount of this colored varnish and store it in a small airtight jar so that you can quickly swipe another coat on without having to mix the pastel every time. That is what I am going to do so that it saves me time!
Step 7: Finished! 902