10 Ultra Fast Wire Jewelry Gifts You Can Make in Just 5 Minutes

When you’re really down to the wire on holiday gift making, what could be easier than simple wire jewelry? If you have basic wire jewelry making skills and tools, a stash of wire, jump rings, and beads, you’re good to go. For slightly more challenging designs, you might need a few basic metalsmithing tools such as a chasing hammer or bench block, or a handful of findings. Add a little imagination to make the details your own and you are golden. So here are 10 clever design ideas from the 10 5-Minute Wire Jewelry Projects eBook that you can make quickly and easily.

Last minute holiday jewelry gifts here you come!

Pattern Wire Earrings

“Here’s a new way to use that cool patterned wire,” says Sally Stevens about these earrings. “It’s also a great way to showcase vibrant lampwork drops, made on the ends of 20g fine silver wire. Alternatively, you could use top drilled beads!”

Made with: patterned sterling strip wire, lampwork beads, fine silver wire, sterling bead caps and ear wires, jump rings, metal shears, round nose and chain nose pliers, a metal hole punch, and a metal file.

Easy Loop Post Earrings

Cindy Gimbrone describes her simple pearl earrings as “the result of a ‘stream-of-consciousness’ design,” using whatever idea comes into her head and running with it. “I take out my practice wire and start playing with it; I don’t censor myself. I just keep cutting, twisting, and forming.”

Made with: dead soft wire, pearls, E beads or crystals, post earring backs; chain nose, straightening and round nose pliers; flush cutters, ruler, file, chasing hammer, and bench block.

Bezel Wire Earrings

“You need only your pliers to create a cool twisted effect on bezel wire,” explains designer Sally Stevens. “These earrings are a breeze to put together!”

Made with: sterling bezel wire, decorative soldered rings, jump rings, sterling ear wires, metal shears, chain nose and flat nose pliers, metal hole punch, metal file, nylon mallet, bench block, and a Sharpie.

Copper Top Ring

Denise Peck took a large, decorative bead and made it the main feature of the focal on a very cool ring. She connected the parts in a way that embellished the top, too.

Made with: copper wire, copper and silver bead, sterling spacer, flush cutters, chain nose pliers, and a ring mandrel.

Daring Squiggle Pendant

Excited by a jewelry making class and a special bead, Jennifer Judd was inspired to come up with this design. “During Bead Fest Philadelphia,” she recounts, “I took a class from artist Noël Yovovich, and learned how to bend wire so that it flows. Dare Van Vree’s ceramic Happy Beads at Some Enchanted Beading also caught my eye. Both inspired this fun pendant.”

Made With: dead soft wire, ceramic focal bead, glass disc bead, chain nose and round nose pliers, chasing hammer, bench block, and polishing cloth.

Aqua Waters

Of these lovely earrings, designer Denise Peck says, “Sometimes you just want a pair of earrings that are simple yet elegant. These fit the bill, with beautiful blue-green faceted apatite beads, and the surprise of square wire.” Definitely!

Made With: half hard square sterling wire, head pins, faceted apatite rondelles, round nose pliers, flush cutters, and a Sharpie or a stepped mandrel if you have one.

Unexpected Pearl Earrings

“Keshi pearls throw a wrench in your expectations of pearl jewelry,” comments Denise Peck about this earring design of hers. “Because of their irregular shapes, they look great when paired with a rougher, more organic metal setting.”

Made With: sterling wire, keshi pearls, sterling ear wires, wire cutters, ball peen hammer, awl, bench block, round nose and chain nose pliers, and a metal file.

Funky Linked Bangle

Sara Graham says she was “inspired to create something fresh, funky, and colorful, using a combination of easy techniques” when she came up with this design. “Materials in this project make a 7 1⁄2″ bracelet,” she notes. “Simply adjust the lengths of the 20g coiled links if you want a shorter or a longer bracelet.”

Made With: craft wire, stamped resin beads, jump rings, toggle clasp, flush cutters, and round, chain, and flat nose pliers.

Bluebell Drops

“Here’s a simple way to showcase a couple of your favorite beads,” says Denise Peck, who chose to highlight blue flower beads for these earrings. “This pair is made with 4″ pieces of wire, but you can make them any length you want.”

Made With: half hard sterling wire, glass flower beads, hammer, bench block, chain nose pliers, and wire nippers.

Coily Colored Jump Ring Chain

“I wanted to add a bit more pop to my jump rings for a charm bracelet I was making. Slipping colored coils onto my rings was the perfect solution,” Sara Graham remarks, then explains just how flexible this technique is. “You can use any size or gauge of jump rings, or any mandrel to make the coils, as long as the coil can slip easily onto your rings. Such a simple way to add color to a plain silver chain!”

Made With: heavy-gauge copper wire as a mandrel, craft wire, jump rings, clasp, flush cutters, and flat-nose and chain-nose pliers.

You Have Gifts to Make — What Are You Waiting For?

Find all 10 of these simple and quick projects in the convenient and attractively priced digital compilation 10 5-Minute Wire Jewelry Projects. And the extra good news? This instant download of projects from Step by Step Wire Jewelry can be yours right now. So pull out your tools and supplies and start making these great wire-jewelry gifts. You still have time!

Originally published 12/18/2017. Updated 12/18/2023.