ECT TV Episode 53: Side Drilled Bead Earrings

Hi and welcome to another episode of Emerging Creatively Tutorials TV (ECT TV)!Today I'll teach you how to wire wrap side drilled beads and then make a fun pair of earrings!Here's today's video episode:Step-by-Step Photo Instructions:These are step-by-step photo instructions of the exact same tutorial that's in the video, except in photos.Materials and Tools:

• 4 Beads.  I used beads from Michaels, but you can use any beads that are side drilled.
• Earring wires or make your own earring wires
• 20 gauge half-hard round wire
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Bent nose pliers

Step #1Slide a bead on your 20 gauge wire.  Leave about 3" of wire on each side of the bead and cut the wire.Step #2Center the bead on the wire.  Cross the wire over in the top, middle of the bead.Step #3Twist the wire once.Step #4If your wires ended up being two different lengths, use the longer one for this step.  If they're the same length, it doesn't matter which wire you use.Hold one of the wires in round nose pliers just above the twist you made.Step #5Wrap the wire toward you and around the pliers in between the twist and the pliers forming a loop.Step #6The loop will probably be off center and you want it centered in the middle of the bead.  I straighten the loop by holding the loop in chain nose pliers and while I wrap the wire around one time I straighten the loop so it's centered.Step #7Now I switch hands and continue wrapping a few times with the first wire.Then wrap around a few times with the other wire.  Go in the direction that the wire wants to go.Keep your wraps close together and straight as possible.Step #8Trim off any excess wire.Step #9Make sure your wire ends are not poking out using your chain nose pliers to make sure they're pushed in.Step #10Repeat for all 4 beads.Step #11Open up earring wires and add the beads.  I added the longer bead first and the shorter one in the front.Close the earring wires.I hope you found this tutorial helpful!Remember, you can browse through my eWorkshops, eBooks, eCourses and tutorials in my shop.