DIY Jewelry Project: Make a Pair of Fashion Earrings

If you are a "low-budget" fashionista like myself, you are always thinking about how you can look your best at fractions of the cost. I love earrings. No outfit is complete without them. I love having a pair of earrings to match everything that I wear. I design my earrings according to the design and style of my clothing. The dangling style of earring is always a good choice because the movement adds a shimmering effect to your look, creating a look that is dazzling and simply glamourous!

Creating your own earrings seems like a difficult task, however, I find making them is very simple and inexpensive. To make a pair of earrings requires only a few items. You must have a small a pair of round-nosed pliers, wirecutters, headpins, earring wires and beads. These items can be found at most jewelry supply stores and stores such as Michaels Arts and Crafts and Walmart.

Headpins are somewhat similar to a straight pins. They are longer and blunt on the end. You can find them in sterling silver, nickel, gold and gold plated. The head of the pins also come flat or with some type of decoration at the end. You can also find beads in all colors and styles made from glass, acrylic, pearl, and semi-precious stones. For this particular style of earring, you want to purchase beads with wholes that will fit the headpin. If the whole is too large, the bead will slip off the pin. The earring wire, the part that goes the ear, can also be purchased in silver, nickel and gold plated.

Once you have assembled the neccessary items, you are ready to get started. First, you want to create the dangling body of the earring. Take the headpin and arrange your beads on the pin. Arrange them according to your own personal taste. You can add spacer beads, which are metallic beads that give your earrings a classy touch and little weight. Once you have arranged your beads on the pin, you clip it with wire cutters, allowing enough wire to create a small loop at the end. Then, grip the end of the headpin with the round-nosed pliers and turn slightly, creating a closed loop at the end. Once you have created the "body", you take your round-nosed pliers and open the loop on your earring wire. Attach the "body" of the earring to the earring wire then close the loop, making sure that all loops are closed completely. Repeat the same steps for the other earring. There you have it! You have created your first pieces of jewelry. Not hard at all, was it!

Jewelry making is a very fun and creative hobby. You can have jewelry-making parties with friends, or you can use the craft as a fun way to spend time with the kids. With a little practice, you can even create jewelry that will make you money at craft shows and flea markets or make personalized gifts to give to friends and family on special ocassions. You save a whole lot of money and have a whole lot of fun doing it You can't beat that!