How To Make Your Own Bead Earrings Step By Step

Everybody is doing it!
Making their own beaded jewelry, that is. It's fun, it's addictive, and with the huge variety of beads easily available, it's easier to find the perfect beads to match any outfit. With a few tools and some beautiful beads, you can make your own earrings.

Step 1: Gather your tools and supplies.

Beads for this project are lampwork glass beads by artist Phyllis Kenyon. (Sometimes she sells on okay, so google her and see if you can find her creations. Or do an okay search for "lampwork artist beads"--you'll be delighted by what you find!)
2" headpins.
Ear wires.
Spacers.
Silver metal beads
Round nose pliers
Chainnose pliers
Wire cutters.

Step 2: Arrange your beads on the headpins.

For this project I strung one silver bead, a spacer, a small glass bead, a spacer, a large glass bead, a spacer, a silver bead.
This is the really fun part. Play with colors and arrangements. Do both earrings at the same time so you can make sure you have the order and sizes balanced.

Step 3: Make the loop.

With the tip of the round nose pliers held against the top bead, make a 90 degree bend in the wire.
Readjust the position of the pliers and fold the wire around the tip of the round nose to make a loop.
Hold the loop with the chainnose pliers in your dominant hand and with your other hand wrap the wire snugly around the exposed wire for two or three wraps.
Clip the tail of the wire very close to the wrap.
If there is a sharp end remaining, use the very end of the chainnose pliers to press it down, or use a small file to smooth the end.
It should look like the picture below.

Step 4: Attach your newly created dangles to the earwires.

Using the chainnose pliers open the loop on the earwires by pulling it open to the side (never pull it open from front to back--it can weaken the wire).
Slide the dangle onto the open loop.
Close the loop.
And there you are! A beautiful pair of earrings, custom made by you.

CAUTION: Making beaded jewelry is highly addictive. You'll find yourself spending hours cruising the aisles of the hobby stores and bead stores, or browsing for beads and findings on okay. You might also find yourself drawn to wonderful beading magazines like Beadwork, Bead