How to Make Fancy Beaded Earrings

Make off-white pearl flower earrings for any special event.

Make a pair of simple and elegant beaded drop earrings. This fashion accessory is easy enough for even novice jewelry makers to create. Once you have mastered the simple earrings, create a beautiful pair of flower-shaped earrings from tiny iridescent pearl beads. The pearl flower earrings are made from short lengths of jewelry wire, covered with tiny pearls and shaped into a five-petal flower with a center pearl bead. Make the earrings for yourself, or be generous and share your craft talents with a special friend or family member.

Things You'll Need

• 22-gauge jewelry wire
• Wire cutters
• Needle-nose pliers
• 5 mm pearl beads
• 3 mm pearl beads
• Jump rings
• Hook earrings (from craft store)
• 2-inch-long headpin
• 4 mm silver or gold beads
• 4 mm crystal beads
• 6 mm silver or gold beads

Instructions

Beaded Pearl Flower Earrings

1. Cut a 6-inch-long piece of 22-gauge jewelry wire. You will not use all the wire, but you will need the extra length to work with as you make the pearl flower.

2. Make a small hook at one end of the wire with the needle-nose pliers to prevent beads from falling off.

3. Slide a 5 mm pearl bead onto the wire. This is the center of the flower. Add 25 of the 3 mm pearl beads to make the petals.

4. Shape the first five beads next to the center bead into a petal shape by bending the wire with the five beads. Twist the wire at the end of the petal to hold the shape. Repeat with the next five beads to make the second petal. Repeat with each of the five beads to form a total of five petals, with the center bead protruding from the middle.

5. Make a small loop next to the flower from the wire, wrap the wire around the loop and cut off the excess.

6. Hook an open jump ring onto the loop of the flower and the loop of the hook earring. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to make the second earring of the pair.

Elegant Drop Earrings

1. Hold the 2-inch-long headpin with a tiny ball at one end and slide a 4 mm silver or gold color bead down to the tiny ball.

2. Add a crystal bead, the same size as the silver or gold bead, and then a decorative 6 mm silver or gold bead. Add another crystal bead and then one more 4 mm silver or gold bead.

3. Make a loop from the headpin above the silver or gold bead. Twist the length of the headpin around the base of the loop three or four times.

4. Hook an open jump ring onto the new loop and then hook the jump ring onto the loop of the hook earring. Close the ring.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to make the second earring of the pair.

References

• "How to Bead Earrings: An Artistic Approach"; Lori S. Berry; 1993