Making jewelry is easier than you might think—and with just five basic tools, you can get started right away. Let’s walk through the essential steps of making jewelry and which tools you’ll need along the way.

Tools you’ll need:

• Metal shears
• Half-round jeweler’s file
• Ball-peen hammer
• Hole punch pliers
• Pliers with round and flat jaws

Step 1: Choose Your Shape

First, decide on the shape of your earring. Common options include square, round, oval, teardrop, and diamond. You can use a Sharpie to draw your design directly onto the sheet of metal.

Step 2: Cut the Metal

Next, cut out your shape. I recommend metal shears on 24-gauge metal or thinner. Cut just outside your Sharpie line, keeping the cut as smooth as possible. Begin with simple designs, and as you gain practice, you can move on to fancier ones.

Step 3: File the Edges

Now it’s time to smooth the rough edges left by the shears. I hold the piece in my left hand and push the file with my right, working at a slight angle along the edge to remove spurs and sharp spots. I use the round side of the file on curves and the flat side on straight edges, adjusting my angle to smooth the front, back, and top surfaces. It’s so satisfying to see the tiny metal filings collect as your piece transforms. Run your finger along the edge to check that it feels smooth.

Step 4: Add Texture

This is the fun part—adding character with your hammer. Place your metal cutout on a block of wood and experiment with the different sides of your ball-peen hammer. The edge creates dents, the round side makes dimples, and the flat side gives texture. If the edges get jagged, do a little extra filing before moving on.

Step 5: Punch the Hole

Mark where you want your ear wire to go, then line up your hole punch pliers and squeeze through the metal. File lightly around the hole on both sides if needed.

Step 6: Make the Ear Wire

Finally, create your ear wire using your round/flat pliers. I use 20-gauge sterling silver wire, cut to about 2½ inches. Follow a video tutorial online if you need extra guidance. Once shaped, file both ends of the wire so it won’t snag.

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With just these five tools, you can create a wide assortment of earrings. Try out different shapes, textures, and designs—and don’t be afraid to experiment. There are countless tutorials online to spark new ideas.

So, what will you make today?