This week I challenged myself to use all three sizes of crimping pliers in a project and, after a couple of failed attempts at holiday decorations, these earrings were created. Made with the three colors of the Renewal Trios wire set (one of my favorites!) and only a few peridot beads, these earrings are simple to make and are oh-so-pretty with just the right amount of sparkle.My bead stash yielded a random assortment of small peridot beads leftover from other projects that turned out to be perfect for these earrings, so feel free to experiment. I can picture these earrings made with many of the Trios sets, just be sure to use varying shapes and sizes of of the same color bead to help blend all the wire colors together.
Materials needed:
5" of Chrysoprase .019 Diameter Soft Flex Beading Wire
9 1/2" of Peridot .019 Diameter Soft Flex Beading Wire
8" of Green Emerald .019 Diameter Soft Flex Beading Wire
2 Sterling Silver 3mm Crimp Tubes
2 Sterling Silver 2mm Crimp Tubes
12 Sterling Silver 1mm Crimp Tubes
2 Sterling Silver 4mm Soldered Jump Rings
1 pair of Silver Plated Ear Wires
4 Peridot 3.5x4mm Faceted Ovals
2 Peridot 3.5x5-4x7mm Faceted Tubes
2 Peridot 6x7-6x8mm Smooth Ovals
Tools needed:
Cutters
Mighty Crimping Pliers
Crimping Pliers
Micro Crimping Pliers
Bead Stoppers
Finished size: 2 3/4"
Note: though I didn't include Bead Stoppers in any of the pictures here, I assure you I used several of them for this project and highly recommend them!
Step 1: Attach 1 Bead Stopper to one end of 2 1/2" of Chrysoprase wire. String one 1mm crimp tube, 1 peridot faceted oval, and one 1mm crimp tube. Attach the Bead Stopper to the other end of the wire and set aside. Repeat, using 4 3/4" of Peridot wire to string one 1mm crimp tube, 1 peridot faceted tube, and one 1mm crimp tube. Repeat again, using 4" of Green Emerald wire to string one 1mm crimp tube, 1 peridot smooth oval, and one 1mm crimp tube. Do not crimp any crimp tubes.
Step 2: Remove all Bead Stoppers and carefully gather together both ends of the Chrysoprase and Green Emerald wires and one end of the Peridot wire. Place the other end of the Peridot wire so that it is 1 1/2" longer than all other wire ends. Use all six wire ends to string one 3mm crimp tube so that it rests at the very end of the group of five wire ends. Use Mighty Crimping Pliers to crimp the tube.
Step 3: Use the remaining Peridot wire end to string 1 peridot faceted oval, one 2mm crimp tube, and 1 jump ring. Pass back through the tube, making sure to nestle the peridot oval between the 3mm and 2mm crimp tubes as snugly as possible, and crimp. Attach 1 ear wire to the jump ring.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3 to make a second earring.
Step 5: Adjust the 1mm crimp tubes and peridot beads on both earrings so that they are mirror images of each other. Use Micro Crimping Pliers to crimp the 1mm crimp tubes, keeping the peridot beads secured in their spots on the wires.Enjoy!
Guest blogger Jamie Hogsett is the Education Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. Contact her at Jamie@SoftFlexCompany.com.