Matching Hoop Earrings
Last week’s project was using a stone mini-collar to jazz up a basic bead necklace. This week, I’m going to show you how to make a pair of hoop earrings to match this necklace. If you remember, last week I asked that you use pieces of the mini-collar to intersperse between various sized round beads, except I told you to set aside the smallest pieces of the collar for these earrings. Hopefully, you still know where you put those two pieces. Below are all the materials and equipment you’ll need for these matching hoop earrings.
- Here are the materials you'll need:
- 2 smallest pieces of stone mini-collar
- 12 - 4mm rose quartz beads (RQB)
- 36 hot pink seed beads (SB)
- 2 ear hooks
- 2 clam shells
- 2 crimp beads or 2mm base metal beads
- clear nylon thread
- glue
- Here are the tools you'll need:
- sharp scissors pliers (flat and/or round nosed)
2. Thread half the beads in the following order (I’m using the acronyms from the materials list above): 6 SB, 1 RQB, 1 SB, 1 RQB, 1 SB, mini-collar piece, 1 SB, 1 RQB, 1 SB, 1 RQB, 1 SB, 1 RQB, 6 SB.
4. Thread on clam shell in similar manner.
5. Tie nylon into at least 2 knots so that knots rest inside the clam shell.
Note: Now you need to decide if you want your hoops to face out or face to the side. I usually have mine facing out so they lay nicely on earring cards. Also, they are easier to see when you wear them and aren’t covered up by your hair. But you may want them to face to the side. If you want them to face front, make sure to position your clam shell side ways. If you want them to face to the side, then the clam should face forward. Before you follow the next step, you can twist the clam shell in either direction to see which you think looks better.
6. Using scissors, clip the threads close to the knots, add a dab of glue, and then close the clam shell over the knot.
7. Finally, close clam shell loop around loop of ear hook.
8. Now repeat steps 1 through 7 for second earring.
That’s it. Now you have a unique set using your mini-stone collar. I used pink seed beads, rose quartz beads, and a leopardskin jasper mini-collar for this set. However, let your imagination go and let me know what you come up with.
All graphics created by Tammy Powley.