A weekend project - cluster earrings (how to)

What a fun late night project! Having 4 children, I love projects that I can finish in one sitting since I never know the next time that I will be able to sit and create in peace :) These little clusters can make big a statement in just a little package.

Red donuts with crystal and leaf clusters

Supply list:

• 2 - 1" donuts (you don't want these to be too heavy or else your ears will fall off)
• 4 - glass leaf beads (the ones I used are drilled top to bottom and I liked them a lot, but briolette leaves would work too)
• 8" - 22ga wire
• 8 - glass crystals
• 1 jump ring (6 or 8mm)
• 2 - ear wires (if you're planning on giving these as a gift, don't forget to use nickel free ear wires, just in case the person you're giving them to has a nickel allergy)
• headpins (I used the ball head pins we carry because they're a softer temper than most head pins and I wanted to wrap the ends)

How to wrap the doughnut bead:

1. Cut four inches of 22ga wire.
2. Put one inch of the 4” wire in the center hole. Fold both ends up towards the top. With the 3” section, wrap the doughnut 3 times.
3. Make your loop with what you have left over of the long wire
1. Not sure about loops?  Check out our wire loop making how to. 
4. What is left of the shortened wire wrap the base of the longer wire to make it secure.
5.  Repeat on the second doughnut.

For the smaller beads:

1. Put each smaller bead on a ball head pin - do not trim the pin yet!
2. Make your head pin loops and wrap the extra wire from the head pin around itself and toward the bead.
3. Trim the excess wire.

Connecting everything:

1. Open your jump ring, (tip: always twist a jump ring clockwise/counterclockwise to open, don't pull them straight out).
2. Decide which beads you want on each earring.
3. Put half of your beaded headpins onto a jump ring (1/4 of the total headpins).
4. Put on your wrapped doughnut.
5. Put the other half of your beaded headpins on.
6. Slide on your ear wire.
7. Close your jump ring.
8. Repeat.

Another example!  This one is done with large briolettes in place of the donuts.

Blue goldstone briolettes with crystal clusters

 The ideas and color schemes are endless! The bead layout I have together for the next late night project is: Gold metal, light Blue, burnt orange, & dusty brown (but who knows when that is going to be!) I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

 - Aimee

P.S. - if you're confused or unsure about this project, we're always here to help!  We also offer a lot of jewelry making classes in our Denver bead store - The Colorado Bead Company.