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Patriotic jewelry and accessories are one of my favorite things about summer time.  Today I am sharing how I created these grungy americana earrings from plaster buttons (which I had never heard of or seen until one fateful day at a salvage shop) and Tim Holtz Distress Paint.  This project is quick, fun and easy.  I am also going to show you how I make my own lovely ear wires using a cool jewelry  jig from Bead Landing.

SUPPLIES:

Plaster Buttons (These were a dime each at a local salvage store)

Tim Holtz Distress Paint Barn  Door, Broken China and Pickett Fence 

Masking tape

Bead Landing Jewelry Jig

Artistic Wire Gunmetal Bronze 20 Gauge

Flush Cutters

Paint Brush (LOVING this new Martha Stewart Silicone Jewelry paint brush from her new jewelry line)

Ranger Distress Ink Antique linen

Clear Embossing ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Heat Gun

TUTORIAL:

Use masking tape to tape off stripes and paint one at a time, letting each one dry for 30 min before moving onto the next.  I painted directly with the dauber then touched up after all three colors were on, using the silicone paint brush.

This is what they looked like after just the Distress paint.  I decided I wanted a grungier look, so I dabbed my Antique Linen distress inkpad directly on the earrings.  I poured clear embossing powder over that and melted it to set with my heat gun.  Then to seal the entire painted surface, I applied clear embossing ink all over and then clear embossing powder, again heat setting it.

I picked out a pattern for ear wire findings.  The jig linked above comes with 5 options for ear wires.  It is super easy to use. It works best with 20 gauge wire.

Just insert the end of the wire into the hole to secure and wrap following the white lines.

Cut at the dotted lines to separate the ear wires.  You make 8 at a time!  File the cut ends and you are set.

For more Patriotic Crafts, be sure to visit our 50+ Patriotic Projects Round-up!