EARRING DESIGN IDEAS
The Beading Gem's Journal
INTRODUCTION
Earrings are fun and quick to make. From simple dangles to elaborate chandeliers, the possibilities are endless. Here are some design ideas and tutorials to admire and inspire as you explore ways to make earrings in perhaps new and most certainly unique ways.
Many of the designs featured in this hub are some of the best amongst the hundreds of creations of mostly beginners at Beading Gem workshops and beading parties (click on the source link to view original blog posts). Also included are original designs by The Beading Gem aka Pearl. This hub is a work in progress.
The designs appeared on The Beading Gem's Journal, a different kind of jewelry blog, which features thousands of inspirational designs, jewelry making tips and tutorials and lots of fascinating stories about jewelry, beads, gemstones and the people who make and wear them.
Check out The Beading Gem's Jewelry Making Tips Jewelry - a hub of all the free tutorial posts.
HOW TO MAKE BASIC EARRINGS
Use either a head pin or an eye pin to make a beaded dangle. The ends of these wire lengths serve to stop the beads from falling off. If you want to use a larger hole bead at the bottom, adding a small inconspicuous seed bead first will stop the former from slipping off the head pin or eye pin.
There are two ways to finish the top of the dangle as illustrated by the following two videos :
- How to make easy earrings - illustrates wire loop construction and attachment to the ear wire. This method saves on metal.
- How to make wire wrapped loops - these are more secure.
How to Make Easy Earrings
How to make a wrapped loop
DANGLES
When designing just a simple dangle earrings, there are many ways to make them different.
- Vary the type of beads and their colors.
- Vary where the largest beads are placed. Putting these either at the bottom, top or middle changes the look.
- Hang multiple dangles
- Make stiletto earrings - really long skinny ones!
If you are always making dangles the same way, start breaking the habit.
TIERS
Add one, two or more connecting dangles under each other and you get tiered earrings for even more eye-catching movement!
Wire loops can be used but wire wrapped loops are more secure.
Jump rings can also be used to connect sections together.
There are also tons of charms you can use - from little ones to big ones!
Do they have to go at the bottom? Nope.
Each tier can be of the same length but it's fun to also vary the lengths.
CHANDELIERS
There is no magic trick to make chandelier earrings for they simply consist of several dangles added to pretty chandelier findings.
If you already know how to make a dangle, you can make chandelier earrings!
There are many chandelier findings on the market to add oomph to your creativity.
You could make your own using wire jigs.
Even double holed beads can be mini-chandeliers.
LAYERS
Build up your earring designs with several components, each in front of the other.
This is one easy way to add individuality to your creations.
Some tips :
- Try not to hide too much of each component
- Vary the sizes of the components
- 2-3 layers are best
HOOPS
Hoops are an alternative to chandeliers if you want to add bulk to your earrings.
Buy them ready made or make your own from wire or leftover lengths of beading wire. Check my blog for tutorials on how to create wire hoops.
Make them as big or as small as you want - that's the beauty of making your own jewelry. For really large hoops, use small bracelet memory wire.
Another suggestion is to make them teardrop shaped for elegant earrings.
SIDE DRILLED BEADS
Side drilled beads like briolettes or dagger beads might seem counter intuitive for earring designs. But really, using these beads can be a lot of fun.
The Beading Gem's Journal
BEADWEAVING
If you don't have a large bead collection or don't wish to get sucked into a bead addiction, then plying needle and thread and working with seed beads is another way to create awesome earring designs.
WIRE WORK
Simple zig zags formed with your tools, or scrolling formed with your pliers are two easy ways to do wire work. Wire wrapping with fine wire is highly recommended.
The Beading Gem's Journal
JUMP RINGS & CHAIN
Jump rings are sure handy in connecting all sorts of earring components together. Using many jump rings can build up to a fun design. Before you know it, you will be creating a chain maille design!
And chains are merely many jump rings connected together.
Use both to add variety to your earring designs.
Comments
Beadinggem (author) from Canada on October 21, 2016:
I think I bought those square cut dangles from Fire Mountain Gems YEARS ago. I do not know if they still carry them.
Bobbie Forman on October 21, 2016:
Love all the varied ideas. What is the source under "Tiers" of the square cut out bead at the bottom. Would love to use it in other designs. Keep up the great things you are doing.
bobbie
bobbieforman@yahoo.com
horseshit1007@gmail.com on July 03, 2015:
Love it
Shop Kanupriya on May 13, 2014:
Great work... i read your article as well as show videos i really enjoy this.
centermassmedia on December 19, 2013:
My wife loves making her own jewelry. I am definitely going to share this site with her. Thank you for taking the time out to share this art with us!
John Ramsay
Nadia Archuleta from Denver, Colorado on March 04, 2013:
Your ideas are so creative. I especially love the earrings you have at the top of your Hub -- the red bead ones. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
PJ Taylor on August 20, 2011:
I enjoy all of your posts. You have great ideas and easy to understand tutorials. I have learned so much from you!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks
Liz Goltra on May 04, 2011:
Great hub! Voted up. Thanks for posting.
Divya N on March 28, 2011:
Great Work Pearl - the page is so much more inspiring as it is uncluttered now
new print head on February 25, 2011:
Its awesome. Its a great idea making earrings. Thanks
Fox on December 01, 2010:
This is fun. Now I can gather my goodies and sit here at my computer and STUDY and LEARN! Great idea making this an earrings (my real love) site. THANKS!!!
