Seed Bead Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Beading
Technique(s): Beading
Skill Level: Beginner

I have BOXES of seed beads that my daughter loved to work with when she was younger. Of course, that phase did not last, so they have been sitting in the back of the closet since then. I just "found" them again, and this time when I opened the lid, all the beads looked like a party waiting to happen. I decided to make something FUN and use a lot of color! PARTY!!!

Materials

22 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-22H

Lesson Quantity: 6.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $2.18
Gold Club Price: $1.63

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Soft Touch by Soft Flex Wire--Very Fine--.010

BDC-400.10

Lesson Quantity: 35.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.95
Gold Club Price: $6.71

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5mm crimp covers

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

Sterling Silver Earwires 23mm w/Coil - Pack of 2

K19-53

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.28
Gold Club Price: $1.71

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Variety of seed beads

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the directions before starting the project.

These earrings are 3¼" long from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the longest bead loop. With nine strands of beads on each earring, they can be on the heavy side. Change the number and length of the bead strands to suit personal preference.

Wire Number Cut Wire Length Bead Length

Wire 1 4 6¾" 4"

Wire 2 4 6½" 3¾"

Wire 3 4 6¼" 3½"

Wire 4 2 6" 3¼"

Wire 5 5 5¾" 3"

String beads on the beading wire. Use bead stops or tape to secure the ends so the beads do not slide off.

Judy Larson's Seed Bead Earrings - , Beading, Beads, seed bead earrings

Step 2

Slide one end of each beaded wire through a crimp tube. It is difficult to put all the wires through at once, so work with several at a time. Make all the wire ends even.

Step 3

Push the crimp tube down the wires to ½" from the wire ends.

Pro Tip: It was my choice to work with wires longer than needed because they were easier for me to work with. Do what works for you.

Step 4

Use a flat or chain nose pliers to flatten the crimp tube. The wires will be secure. If a larger crimp tube is used and both sets of wire ends are inserted, all the wires may not be secure after flattening the crimp tube. Using two crimp tubes provides more security as well as making the side of the earrings flare out in the teardrop shape.

Step 5

Repeat Step 4 with the wires on the other end of the bead strands.

Step 6

Trim off the short beading wire ends above the crimp tube.

Step 7

Make a ½" hook in a 3" piece of 22 gauge round wire. Split the beaded wires, 5 on one side and 4 on the other, near the crimp tube and insert the hook. Follow the same process to insert the hook into the other end of the crimped together beaded wires.

Step 8

If using crimp covers: Form the wire ends around the two flattened crimp tubes. If using a cord ends: Wrap the short hook wire once around the longer wire and trim the excess wire off.

Step 9

If using crimp covers: Fold the crimp cover over the crimped beading wires, making sure to keep the beading wires out of the crimp cover seam. Trim the 22 gauge wire tail at the top of the crimp cover If using a cord ends: Slide the wire through the hole in the cord end, pulling the wire tightly to seat the crimped wires inside the cord end.

Step 10

Make a wire wrapped loop with the wire tail. Wrap back up the shank of the wire wrapped loop if a thicker look is desired (done on both earrings here).

Step 11

Attach earring findings.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!