Making earrings?

Question

I have just learnt how to make necklaces and I want to learn how to make matching earrings but I don't know where to start. Can anyone help me out?

Answer 1

Making earrings are fun. I go to www.FusionBeads.com. There are a ton of design ideas and free instructions. They even cover the basics of working with wire with step by step photos with their instructions. Here is a link to their design ideas page for bracelets, necklaces, earrings and more - http://www.fusionbeads.com/inspiration/index.php .

If you want to make really simple, small earrings to go with your necklace, you will need the following items:

1 - pair of earring hooks
2 - 2" thick headpins (about 22gauge or 20 gauge wire) in whatever metal color that matches your earring hooks
Beads to dangle for your earrings - minimum 2. *Note: I would pick 2 beads (4mm-8mm in size) that you used to make your necklace.

Tools:
Wire Flush Cutters
Jewelry chain nose pliers
Jewelry round nose pliers

Instructions:

1. Play around with the beads you plan to use for your earrings by stacking one or several beads on your headpin. Stack only one bead for a short pair of earrings. Stack 3 beads to make them long sticks. Repeat the same design on the other headpin.

2. Leave about 3/8" of an inch above the top bead to make a loop at the top. If the wire on top of the top bead is longer than 3/8", then trim it with your wire flush cutters.

3. Bend the wire above the top bead 90 degrees with your chain nose pliers (that's the one that are flat inside the jaws).

4. Grab the tip of your wire with the tip of your round nose pliers (that's the one that are round inside the jaws). Curl the wire around the pliers moving towards the bead. Position the round loop to sit on top of your beads like a lollipop.

5. With your chain nose pliers, lift up the open side of the lollipop loop. Link your dangle to the earring hook.

6. With your chain nose pliers, twist the open side of your lollipop loop down to close the opening.

7. Repeat Steps #2-6 for other earring.

Tip: If you don't like the look of earring hooks, you could try earring leverbacks (they look like a D shape) or posts. If you have sensitive ears, then I recommend using sterling silver or gold-filled earring hooks (or leverbacks, or posts). Sometimes people have a bad reaction to nickel, copper, brass and surgical steel.

It's better when you have a picture. You can go to http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=9 to view step-by-step photos of how to make that lollipop loop.

Answer 2

For a simple pair of beaded earrings:
1) you will need one pair of earring findings. There are a lot of different styles, I prefer french hooks. (a curvy bit with a loop at one end.)
2) you will also need at least two head pins. These are straight bits of wire which terminate in a a flat piece.
3) thread your beads onto the pins. When done, grasp the pin a bit above the top bead, bend it over, then wrap the excess around the pin (just above that bead) a couple times. Snip off any extra with wire cutters, and use pliers to squish the end in so it's not all poky.
4) Open the loop at the end of your ear wires and attach your beaded pin(s) with the loop just just made. Close the loop on the earrings. If necessary, use jump rings for additional length or attachment, if you use a different earring finding. Also, keep in mind that with the right tools, you can make these findings out of wire, so feel free to get creative.

Answer 3

I travel a lot all around the country, and my favorite souvenir is handmade earrings from local artists who use native materials. So even though I don't make earrings, I love to own them. This site will get you started
http://www.beadage.net/drop_earrings/index.shtml
.

Answer 4

Its always best to make the earrings from sterling silver as unless you have nickel detection equipement you could fall foul of strict anti-nickel EU regulations. In any event sterling silver wire is still relatively cheap and any other types of metal could lead to allergy problems etc.

Answer 5

I made a lot of earrings before I acually got them peirced, anyway when I got my ears done my mother told me I could only wear gold because of the family alergy to nickle 😥

Answer 6

its easy..
go to michels or a craft store and get the earring things that like go thru you ear- not stubs the long things
and then
fishing string and then beads
wallabamm!