Free Beading Project from Exposed: Golden Glow Earrings

Here's the last free jewelry project to whet your appetite for Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed co-written by Margot Potter, Fernando DaSilva and yours truly (F+W Pubs 2009). From wire designs that defy gravity to innovative uses of everyday findings, there is inspiration for the beginning beader and the experienced jewelry designer on every page.

In last week's post, I invited readers to leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win my Connections Necklace from Exposed. The name that was randomly selected from the hat is Debbie B. Congrats! (Debbie, please email me your mailing address at Katie@KatieHacker.com.) This week, you're all invited to leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win a kit to make a piece of jewelry from Exposed.

GOLDEN GLOW EARRINGS

Fernando's earring design was inspired by his mother, who never goes out in public without at least a pair of earrings. He envisioned a pair of slim and elegant drop earrings suitable for any occasion. Incorporating square Crystallized™ buttons with teardrop crystals and satin gold Bead Bumpers™ results in an edgy but very wearable design.

Materials

2 Swarovski 14mm light Colorado topaz square crystal buttons

2 Swarovski 24 x 12mm Terrenum long tear drop crystal pendants

14 gold plated 4mm light weight jump rings

2 gold plated modern ear post

4 gold plated pinch bails

50 satin gold cube bead bumpers – 1.7mm

16” of gold plated German style wire

Tools

Beadstrom™ chain nose pliers

Beadstrom™ round nose pliers

Beadstrom™ flush cutter

Mighty crimp tool

Instructions

1.Using the outside jaw of the mighty crimper tool attach 1 pinch bail to each hole of one square button; be gentle using the crimper tool otherwise the edges of the button will chip and you don’t want that to happen;

2. Attach one pinch bail to the long tear drop; use the same techniques applied on step 1;

3. Using chain nose pliers wrap one of the tips of German style wire to the tear drop assembled on step 2; place the tip of wire into the edge of pinch bail and turning around its neck twice; trim excess wire and tuck the tip under the wrapped portion;

4. String 25 gold satin bead bumpers onto the German style wire; wrap around the tear drop on vertical position and finish the same way was done in step 3; make sure the wire was wrapped tight around the crystal tear drop and then trim excess wire;

5. Open 1 4mm round jump rings and slide through tear drop’s pinch bail ring and then close gently; attach a second jump ring following same directions;

6. Open a 6mmm round jump ring and string 4 bead bumpers into it;

7. Repeat step 5 to attach 2 others 4mm round jump rings to square button pinch bail and then attach it to 6mm jump ring;

8. Attach the portion finished on step 7 to 2 round jump rings and then attached to a single jump ring previously attached to modern ear post.

9. Repeat all steps to make a matching earring.

All crystals are from Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements; chain and findings are from Beadalon.

See the book for step by step pictures of the project!