How to Make Basic Beaded Earrings

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Beaded earrings are super easy and cheap to make. Here a simple way to make them.

You will need: 2 beads, 2 headpins, 2 earring hooks, jewellery pliers, 2 minutes.
For more information regarding jewellery hooks and pliers see my previous post.

how to make basic beaded earringstute

 

1. Get your 2 basic headpins. These can be purchased at craft shops or on ebay.
2. Place bead on headpin.
3. Press the head pin back firmly against the bead till it reaches about a 90 degree angle.
4. Trim the head pin back to leave approximately 1cm of metal.
5. Grab the end of the head pin with jewellery pliers and begin forming a loop.
6. Keep moving the wire around the pliers, leaving a small gap for hook.
7. Put on hook.
8. Close the loop using inside of pliers.
Done!!!
 
This technique is really quick and easy but can take some practice to get refined looking results.
Headpins are easily available to buy from craft stores and online jewellery sites. I actually buy the majority of mine in bulk from ebay as it tends to be a lot cheaper. Headpins come in a range of sizes to fit different shaped beads and purposes, from just a centimetre or so on upwards. They also come in a range gauges. The smaller the number of gauge, the thicker the wire will be. Many of the cheaper ones won’t state a gauge. I don’t have much experience in using different gauges as I generally buy the cheaper ones! From what I’ve read I think a gauge of about 22 is about average – 24 on up is used for more delicate work. You can buy sterling silver or real gold headpins but I don’t see much point if you’re only making basic jewellery for yourself.

Beads are of course easy to buy at craft stores, markets, online and also easy to make yourself too. I like to look out for cheap, discounted or thrift shop jewellery to cut up for beads. Keep your eyes out for them!!! You can come across some really interesting and special beads that way.

TIP: You can create more unique beads yourself by painting them with craft paints or nail polish.

Make sure to use good quality hooks (ie surgical steel, sterling silver) if you have metal sensitivity though.  They aren’t expensive. See this previous post for more information.

For beads with larger holes you can purchase headpins with different sized/shaped endings. You can also use bead caps, which are available at craft stores. I prefer to just use sequins.  They tend to be less noticeable than bead caps and you can coordinate their colours to suit your design!
I enjoy making more complicated designs but I think simple earrings look the best on. Some of my favourite earrings to wear are just round beads on a headpin!
If you want to add more beads to your design you can stack them on the head pin –  try mixing them up with bead caps or sequins too!
You can also link other beads to your original bead. For this you’ll need an eyepin. You can buy these at craft stores too but I tend to just make mine own by creating a loop at the end of a headpin offcut.
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