Jennifer Claydon - Earring Chic: 35 Hand-Selected Projects

Earring Chic

35 Hand-Selected Projects

Edited by Jennifer Claydon

Whether youre new to making jewelry or a seasoned hand at it, earrings make the perfect project for so many reasons! First, theyre quick to make. If you want to add a special touch to an outfit, you can whip up a pair of matching earrings in just a few minutes. Or, if youre in need of a last-minute gift, you can quickly and easily create a lovely pair to present. Earrings are also great projects for those busy days when you dont have a lot of time to create, but still want a crafty fix. Even if you decide you want to create a fabulous, complex pair of earrings or use special techniques like chain mail, earrings take only a fraction of the time a necklace or bracelet would take using the same technique.

Not only are earrings great time-savers, theyre economical when it comes to materials, too. Youll only need a small handful of supplies to create any of the projects in this book. Making your own earrings gives you fashion on a budget. On the other hand, if you decide to splurge on some special beads or precious metals, the short materials lists for these projects will keep the splurge small.

So dive into the pages of Earring Chic and find beautiful designs for all of your earring needstheres a pair for every style and every skill level. The projects are divided by skill level, so start by exploring the projects that best suit your experience. Within each chapter weve gathered together a bevy of beautiful designs from talented designers including Heidi Boyd, Margot Potter, Sara Schwittek and more. In these pages youre sure to find a project that suits your style or a pair that lets you play outside of your style comfort zone. Have fun fashioning an entire new earring wardrobe for yourself!

BOMBAY HOOPS by Sara Schwittek
To learn how to make these earrings, see page 64.

If youve made a piece of jewelry before, chances are that you already have on hand everything youll need to make yourself a beautiful pair of earrings. If youre new to jewelry making, all the necessary supplies, materials and tools are just a short shopping trip away. You most likely have a local bead store or craft store nearby and that should be the first stop in your search. If you cant find what you need locally, well, a world of great jewelry supplies is at your fingertips on the Internet. Over the next few pages, youll find descriptions of the most common items needed to stock your craft pantry for hours of happy earring making!

SNOW QUEEN by Julie Ashford
To learn how to make these earrings, see page 96.

Doesnt your mouth water and your heart beat faster when you walk into a bead shop? So many delicious optionsyour mind begins to whirl with all the possibilities! Earrings are the perfect project not only for featuring those exquisite gemstone briolettes but also for using up all of those little odds and ends gathered in the bottom of your bead box. Here are just a few of the items you can use.

CRYSTAL BEADS Crystals are precision cut and bring beautiful sparkle to your earrings. They are available in countless colors, finishes, sizes and shapes, making them a staple in any bead stash.

GLASS BEADS Glass beads come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes and colors and can be an inexpensive alternative to pricier gemstones and crystal. Theyre generally very uniform in size and often have a larger hole size to accommodate thicker gauge wire or leather cording.

SEMIPRECIOUS STONES The natural organic beauty, texture and color in these treasures from the earth can set your pieces apart. They can range wildly in price and quality depending on their size, cut and clarity. Take into account their often irregular shapes and small holes when using gemstones in your designs.

WOOD AND NATURAL MATERIALS Wood, bone, shell and other natural materials can give your jewelry an earthy, organic quality. Most of these materials are inexpensive and will give your pieces a one-of-a-kind look.

PEARLS Freshwater pearls provide a timeless, classic feel to any earring design and are surprisingly affordable. Pearls come in a wide variety of shapesrice, potato, coin and nugget to name a fewand are often dyed in beautiful shades.

HEADPINS Headpins are short pieces of wire with a flat head or a round ball at one end, often used to create dangles. Headpins come in different gauges, so test to see if they fit the beads youre using. Lengths from 1"2" (3cm5cm) will meet most needs.

CHAIN Chain is available in a wide variety of styles, sizes and finishes. Sterling silver and gold-filled chains will give your jewelry a more refined look, but gold-plated and silver-plated chains are a wonderful alternative when you need to stick to a budget. Chains also come in gunmetal, copper, brass and antiqued finishes.

SPACER BEADS Spacer beads may not be very exciting, but theyre essential in beading. Spacers provide definition to your special beads or that extra attention to detail that adds visual value to your finished piece.

EARRING HOOKS There are so many beautiful earring hooks available at craft stores, bead shops and online, and using manufactured components can save a lot of time. However, be sure to see the techniques section for instructions on making your own unique hooks. Its easier than you think (pages 127 through 129)!

DECORATIVE COMPONENTS There are hundreds of chandeliers, connectors, charms and other decorative components available at craft and jewelry supply stores. Be creative when it comes to componentsjust because its called a clasp doesnt mean you cant use it in an earring!

When selecting wire for your projects, keep in mind the gauge and hardness of the wire. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire will be. All projects include gauge recommendations, but feel free to adjust the gauge to match the holes in your beads.

The hardness rating of the wire indicates how difficult it is to manipulate. Sterling silver and gold-filled wire are often available in dead-soft, half-hard and hard. Half-hard, round wire is generally a good choice.

Colored craft wire is inexpensive and comes in a rainbow of bright colors, but it can mar easily. You could be left with unattractive dents and scratches. Use coated wire in projects only when the color of the wire is more important than the durability of the finished piece.