Make a pair of sparkling crystal bead earrings.
Attach crystal bead dangles onto a handmade wire frame to create these dazzling chandelier earrings. This project provides:
- Step-by-step instructions
- Helpful diagrams and illustrations
- A list of everything you’ll need
To make this project, you’ll need a wireworking jig. They’re available at most craft stores and jewelry supply stores. However, many people prefer to make their own jigs. All you need is a 6″ x 6″ (15.2 cm x 15.2 cm) wooden board and steel nails.
Table of Contents
Making a Jig
Use heavy-duty wire cutters to clip the heads off the nails, and then file them smooth with a needle file. Hammer the headless nails into the board where the pattern indicates, making each headless nail a 5⁄8″ (1.6 cm) tall peg. To make a jig for the earrings in this project, place the pegs no more than 3 to 4 mm apart. Each peg of the commercially purchased jig should be 2 to 3 mm in diameter and spaced 3 to 4 mm apart.
Finding and Buying Crystal Beads
Crystal beads are available in a wide range of colors. It’s possible to find the perfect color and finish for any beaded project. Crystal beads aren’t surface dyed, like some beads. Instead, they gain their color through chemical elements added during the glass-making process.
These high-quality beads also come in a wide variety of shapes. The round and diamond (bicone) shapes familiar to most beaders are just the beginning. Cubes, ovals, rondelles, saucers, drops, and hearts are some of the shapes available.
When purchasing crystal beads, choose high quality over low price. To qualify as full-leaded crystal, beads need to be composed of at least 24% lead oxide. The finest crystal beads have 32%. Look for finely cut facets, distinct hues, and high-quality surface treatments. Paying just a bit more per bead will improve the look of a piece tenfold, giving it a distinctive and professional look.
Skill Level
- Experienced Beginner
Materials
- 2 smoky topaz 12 x 8mm crystal polygon beads
- 4 opaque aqua 8mm crystal round beads
- 12 opaque aqua 4mm crystal bicone beads
- 6 denim blue 6mm crystal bicone beads
- 4 denim blue 3mm crystal bicone beads
- 10 golden champagne 3mm crystal bicone beads
- 18 gold-plated 4mm daisy spacer beads
- 10 gold-filled 2″ (5 cm) head pins
- 22-gauge round dead-soft gold-filled wire or gold-plated wire, 24″ (61 cm)
Tools
- Homemade wire jig (6″ x 6″ [15.2 cm x 15.2 cm] wooden board and steel nails that are 2 to 3 mm in diameter) or commercial wire jig with removable stainless steel pegs (including a 1⁄4″ [6 mm] peg)
- Hammer
- Heavy-duty wire cutters
- 1⁄4″ (6 mm) diameter dowel
- Wire cutters
- Awl or other thin steel rod
- Chain-nose pliers
- Nylon-jaw pliers
- Bent chain-nose pliers
- Round-nose pliers
- Metal needle file or emery papers (medium and fine grits)
