Holiday Chandelier Earrings Tutorial

Looking for a pair of earrings to go with that special holiday dress? Well, get your bling on by creating these fabulous earrings, which really pack a lot of sparkle.

~image used with permission of Northridge Media, LLC~

In case you missed this project, which was originally published in the November 2008 issue of Bead Trends, I'm happy to provide you with my instructions here.

Materials

2   3-inch pieces of 20-gauge, dead soft, round, sterling silver wire
4   1 ¼-inch pieces of 22-gauge, dead soft, round, sterling silver wire
4   1 1/8-inch pieces of 22-gauge, dead soft, round, sterling silver wire
6   1 1/2-inch pieces of 22-gauge, dead soft, round, sterling silver wire
4   4mm Swarovski round beads in the following color:  Vitail Medium
2   6mm Swarovski round beads in the following color:  Vitrail Medium
2   sterling silver ear wires    
4   8mm, 20-gauge sterling silver jump rings
6   1-inch, 24-gauge sterling silver head pins from

Instructions

 
1. To create a horseshoe-shaped dangle, use a two-inch piece of 20-gauge, dead soft, sterling silver wire. Center the wire at the widest part of your round-nose pliers, and bend the wire to form a horseshoe shape. 

2. Use the tips of your round-nose pliers to form a plain loop on each end of the horseshoe-shaped wire. Use your fingers to pinch in the top of the horseshoe-shaped wire so that the bottom of the shape is much rounder and wider.

3. Create a total of six horseshoe-shaped dangles.

4. Connect three of the horseshoe-shaped dangles together for one earring, and repeat this step for the other earring.

5. Open two jump rings using your chain-nose pliers and flat-nose pliers. Place the jump rings through the plain loops on the top horseshoe-shaped dangle.  Close the jump rings.  Repeat this step for the other earring.

6. Open the ear wire using your chain-nose pliers and flat-nose pliers. Place the jump rings through the loop on the ear wire.  Close the ear wire.  Repeat this step for the other earring.

7. Place a 6mm round bead on a head pin. Make a plain loop, and attach the head pin to the bottom of the horseshoe-shaped dangle above it.  Repeat this step for the other earring.

Note: To ensure the beaded head pin fits nicely into the horseshoe shaped dangle, you may want to lay the head pin on top of the dangle to judge how much wire, if any, you’ll want to trim before making the plain loop. 

Note: Although centered, the 6mm round beads tend to lie on top of the horseshoe-shaped dangles; whereas, the 4mm round beads will fit more easily into the horseshoe-shaped dangles.

8. Place a 4mm round bead on a head pin. Make a plain loop, and attach the head pin to the bottom of the horseshoe-shaped dangle above it.  Repeat this step for the other earring.

9. Place a 4mm round bead on a head pin. Make a plain loop, and attach the head pin to the jump rings above it.  Repeat this step for the other earring.

sources:  all materials from FusionBeads.com.