ECT TV Episode 24: How to Make Beaded Hoops {And Earring Wires}

This week we're making a sweet pair of hoop earrings.  I love the muted colorfulness of these beads, but I invite you to use any beads of your choosing to match your own style and self-expression.And as a special bonus, I'll teach you how to make your own earring wires, too!Here's the video:Mentioned in this episode:5 Day Creativity Challenge.If you're seeing this when I post it, I invite you to join in now!  Just do something creative for 15 minutes each day for 5 days.  You can check in at my Facebook page.Click here to learn more.And if you're watching this later, you can still have your own 5 Day Creativity Challenge!  Just do something creative 15 minutes each day for the next 5 days!My upcoming craft-a-long, Earrings Every Day!I'm so excited about Earrings Every Day and my Earrings eCourse.  Watch for more information about both soon, but you can get on the Earrings Every Day (EED) list now and I'll let you know when more information is available about both!

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Earring Wires Tutorial:I purchased my earring wires for years (and frankly, I still do sometimes!)  Then one day I made my own and realized how easy it was (and inexpensive!)Even if you plan to keep buying pre-made earring wires, it's good to have this technique handy in case you're making earrings and don't have earring wires on hand.  Or you're using a different metal and don't have the right earring wires to match.Tools and Materials:

• 20 gauge, half-hard wire.  You'll need 3" for each earring wire
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Sharpie marker
• File
• Rawhide or nylon hammer and steel block or anvil

Step #1Cut 2 pieces of wire to 3" each.  (It's more important that they're the same length than that they're exactly 3".)Flush cut each side of each wire.Step #2Use the sharpie to make a mark on your round nose pliers near the tip of the pliers.  (It doesn't matter exactly where this mark is.  You mark it so that all your loops are uniform in size.)Step #3{Tip:  As you go through these steps, it's good to make the earring wires in pairs so that they're the same.  So do a step on one wire, then the other and so on.}Hold the wire in the round nose pliers.  The top of the wire should be at the top of the pliers, but not poking through.  Line it up with the mark you made.Step #4Twist your right wrist away from you while wrapping the wire around the round nose pliers with your other hand.Once you have twisted as far as you can go, readjust your wrist, make sure your wire is still lined up with the mark and continue to form a loop.Step #5Bend the wires around the sharpie.  You can do both wires at the same time so they're the same.Step #6Using chain nose pliers, make a slight bend in the long end of the wire.  I like to do this near or just below where the loop on the other side is.Step #7Use a rawhide or nylon hammer and hammer the earring wires to harden the wire so it keeps its shape.Step #8Finally, file the end of the wire to smooth out any rough edges.  I like to make it rounded.Beaded Hoop Earrings Tutorial:In a recent order from Happy Mango Beads I got these really pretty beads.  I love the colors and they're muted, so they're colorful without being too bright.I invite you to try these earrings with any small beads of your choice.  Just remember to consider the weight of the beads since they are earrings.Tools and Materials:

• Small beads 4mm or seed beads.  I used Assorted Rondelle Glass Beads 4-6mm
• 22 gauge half-hard wire (20 gauge would work just fine, too)
• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers
• A second pair of pliers such as bent nose pliers
• Round nose pliers

Step #1Cut 2 pieces of wire.  I cut mine about 8" and they were about medium sized hoops.  You may want smaller or larger, so adjust accordingly.Step #2Loosely form the wires into a teardrop shape.  We'll make sure they keep this shape later, but just loosely bend the wire now.Step #3Bead each hoop, leaving a couple inches at each end of the wire.I just measured the 2 pieces against each other to see if they were the same size.  You count all the beads and make sure the same amount is on each if you're more of a perfectionist.Step #4Make sure the beads are close together and then twist the wire at the top twice.Step #5With a sharpie make a mark on your round nose pliers about halfway.  This is so the loops we'll make at the top of our earrings will be the same size on each one.(Again, it doesn't matter so much where the mark is but that you use it for both earrings so they are uniform in size.)Step #6Hold one of the wires in round nose pliers, lining up the wire with the mark you made.Step #7Wrap the wire around the pliers toward you and then between the twist you made and the pliersStep #8That loop will not be centered, so you have to straighten it.  You can either do this when you still have the round nose pliers in the loop and simply roll back a little.  Alternatively, you can just straighten it with chain nose pliers after you remove the round nose pliers.Step #9Hold the loop in round nose pliers.  Using another pair of pliers (or just your hand if you're more comfortable that way) wrap the wire around.  Then wrap the other wire around.I like to go around at least a few times.  Then trim off any excess wire.Step #10Open the loop on the earring wires you made earlier (or you can use commercial earring wires.)To do this hold the earring wire in one hand and use chain nose pliers to open the loop by pushing straight forward.  Do not pull the loop out.  The circle should stay intact, but just be open.  (If this is new for you and you're confused, watch the video for more clarification.)Step #11Place the beaded hoop onto the earring wire.Close the earring wire in the opposite way of opening it.See you in a couple weeks!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Find out more about Earrings Every Day and Earrings eCourse as soon as it's available!  Sign up for the newsletter now.