Whirly White

 

Supplies:
2 - 3/4" white shell beads

2 - clear seed beads

2- 6" gold wire, 20 guage
2 - gold earring hooks

Tools
Basic Jewelry Tool Kit

Duration
30 minutes

Length: 2 1/2"

The Idea

Start by making the coils for the front of the large bead by wrapping the wire on the round nose pliers until you have your desired size of coil. Bend the end so that you can position it in front of the bead and you can insert the remaining wire through the large bead. Add the seed bead and close with a wire wrapped loop. Connect the earring hooks.

Simple Hoop Earring

Supplies:
2 - 10 mm green bicone glass beads

2- 6" silver wire, 20 guage
2 - silver earring hooks

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Ring Mandrel

Duration
30 minutes

Length: 3 1/2"

The Idea

Decide on the size of the hoop for the earring and wrap around the 6" wire on the mandrel. Wrap the wire until it crosses each other. Leave about 1 1/4" so that you can wrap that end to create a wire wrapped loop, but don't forget to insert the bead before closing the loop. With the remaining wire sticking up, leave about 1/4" in to create a wire loop. Connect the hoops and your done!

Tip:

The hoop will be a little bit bigger after it's wrapped around the mandrel.

Tip 2:

This earring is so versatile. You can change the beads to match any color in your wardrobe!

Twilight

 

Supplies:
2 - 6 mm dark brown round glass beads

2 - 6 mm amber round glass beads

2 - 6 mm golden round glass beads

6 - 2 1/2" 20 guage gold colored copper wire (for beads)

2 - 3" 20 guage gold colored copper wire (for hooks)

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Ring Mandrel

Duration
20 minutes

Length: 3 1/2"

The Idea

To create the hook, take the 3" wire and create a wire wrapped loop at one end. Wrap the wire around a cylindrical object, preferrably a 1" mandrel to create the round bend. Find the center and bend at the center with the chain nose pliers and bend the wire over itself to create something that resembles a fish shape. Open up the wire a bit and cut off the extra wire, about 1/4" shorter than the other side of the wire with the loop.

Take a 2 1/2" length of the gold wire and with chain nose pliers, bend over about 1/16" wire over itself to create a headpin. Thread the gold bead through and close with a wire wrapped loop. Get another wire and create a wire wrapped loop, but before closing the loop, hook the gold bead that you just wired. Thread the amber bead and close with a wire wrapped loop. Get another wire and create a wire wrapped loop, but before you close the loop, hook the amber bead and close the loop. Thread the brown bead and before you close the wire wrapped loop, hook the earring hook through and close the loop.

Tip:

Make sure the wire wrapped loops on the top and bottom of the beads are both facing the same sides and centered on the bead. This will make your jewelry look more finished and balanced when completed.

Crimson Clover

 

Supplies:
4 -10 mm round red glass beads

2 - 2 mm clear with gold foil glass seed beads

1 - 30" gold colored copper wire, cut into sections. see below

(2 - 6" gold colored copper wires, 20 guage; 6 - 3" gold colored copper wires, 20 guage)

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Extra Chain Nose Pliers for wire wrapping

Duration
30 minutes

Length: 3"

The Idea

To make the leaflet: Determine the center of the 6" wire and with the chain nose pliers, make a bend on the halfway point. Fold the wire just until the two open ends meet. About 3/4" from the open ends of the wire, use chain nose pliers to make a bend, perpendicular to the other open end of the wire. Now you can wrap the wire to create something similar to the wire wrapped loop, but without the loop. Wrap the wire around 2-3 times. Cut the excess wire and tuck the ends in. Now you should have a one wire sticking out on the top. Insert one seed bead. Cut the wire down to about 1/4" from the bead and create a simple wire loop. Seperate the wires to your desired size of leaf. You can straighten out any kinks on the wire with nylon covered pliers so you doesn't mar the wire.

Add the beads: Start with bending back about 1" of the end of a 3" wire. Wrap the wire around one wire of the leaflet about 2-3 times. Add the red bead and close the wire on the same side wire.Wrap around about 2-3 times again. Repeat on the other wire. Experiment and place the beads anywhere you think looks good. Cut of excess wire and tuck the ends in.

Create hooks with the remaining wire. I used a wire-jig. If you don't have a wire-jig, you can certainly use something cylinder (marker, pen, etc.)

Tip:

This make take a few attempts to make something without any marring on the wire. Practice makes perfect!

See Green

 

I never thought I would ever wear these psychedelic earrings! Never say never. They really came in handy when my girlfriends and I celebrated 80s night! It was a rad night!!!

Supplies:
24 - 2 mm green glass beads

24 - 2 mm blue glass beads

16 - 2 mm green glass beads

2 - 6" silver wire, 20 - 22 guage

2 - hooks

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Duration
25 minutes

Length: 2.5"

The Idea

Create a loop with your chain nose pliers, with the silver wire and bend the remaining wire 90 degrees perpendicular to the loop you just created. Wrap the wire around a 1" mandrel until it overlaps, to create the round shape for the loop. Add the beads (refer to picture for color scheme). Once all the beads are in place, close the wire loop with 2 loops. Cut the remaining wire and add your hooks. Repeat.

Tip:

Lay out your beads in order to see the color scheme and to speed up the process of threading the beads..

Round About

Supplies:
2 - round glass beads

2 - 6" silver wire, 20 - 22 guage

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Duration
15 minutes

Length: 2"

The Idea
About 1 1/2" from the end, wrap the silver wire around a smooth barreled object (a pen works great). Cross the ends of the wire and at the section where they intersect, bend the longer wire up 90 degrees with a chain nose pliers. Wrap the tail around the base and close it as if you were making a huge wire wrapped loop.

Straighten the remaining wire if needed and slide the bead to lay on top of the circle. Depending on how long you want your earring (I recommend about 1 - 1 1/2"), wrap the wire around a pen to create the "U" shape. Make sure it's perpendicular to the circle. Cut the remaining wire to your desired length and curl up the last 1/4". File to smooth away any rough edges on the wire. Repeat for other earring. 

Tip:

Round beads work better for this. You won't have to worry about them turning to the side.

Design Inspired by Sara Schwittek; Perfect Match - earring designs for every occasion 2008

Green With Envy

Supplies:
2 - earring hooks
2 - sea green foiled glass beads
2 - 7 mm silver beads
2 - 3 mm silver spacer beads
2 - silver headpins

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Duration
15 minutes

Length: 2.5"

The Idea
To create the dangle, thread the spacer bead, green bead and silver bead through a headpin and close with wire loop or simple loop. Attach earring hook. This casual earring will make your friends green with envy. (Tip: Round beads work great too!)