"This little project is great for using up bits and pieces you may have lying around and you could quickly churn several pairs of these out in an evening for gifts. The memory wire will maintain it's shape and won't bend or flex, so it works great for this style."
EQUIPMENT:
Round Nose Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters
MATERIALS:
Ring-sized memory wire
Memory wire cutters these are different from regular cutters
Small beads any color or style
Charms optional
INSTRUCTIONS: Get all of the beads and charms you want to use and come up with a basic design plan for your earrings. Also, make sure your beads fit onto the wire easily.
For each charm you will want to cut a loop and a half from your memory wire coil. The extra length will be where you make loops and the overlap will keep the earring together on the back of your ear.
Grab your round nosed pliers and make a small loop at one end of the memory wire. You will have to exert a fair amount of force to do this, so be careful. Bending the loop inwards will be easier than trying to go against the curve. This loop will stop beads from falling off your wire.
Thread half of your bead design onto the wire.
Next you will want to add your charm. Depending upon the positioning of the loop, you may need to add a small jump ring to your charm so that it faces the right way. The charm will just be directly threaded onto your memory wire loop.
Finish your beaded design and then make another small loop at the end of the wire to hold the design in place.
Do this 1 more time to make a pair!
NOTES:
Before cutting your wire with your usual jewelry making cutters – just don’t! If you don’t have the ability to buy memory wire cutters or have them to hand, then you could use an older pair of normal cutters that you don’t care about as you will more than likely end up with nicks in the cutting blades.