How to make beaded cluster earrings

OK, several people asked for a tutorial on how I make cluster earrings.  This is definitely the easy version! 

You will need a few supplies and tools--2” head pins, jump rings (either 9mm, 12mm or 15mm-I am using 15mm here), earring wires (lots of styles to choose from, doesn’t matter which one), some beads (or an elastic threaded beaded bracelet with the beads already on the head pins—EZ!), and a few tools--jewelry wire snips (scissors or even fingernail clippers work well too), round nose pliers, and regular pliers. All of these supplies were half off at Hobby Lobby, every few weeks jewelry findings are on sale!

Ok, if you are using the bracelet (by the way it is $3.99 regular price at Michaels—I paid $1.99 for it with a 50% off JoAnns coupon) cut the elastic thread and your beads are all ready to slip on the jump ring. The jump ring needs to be opened in a twisting manner, not by just pulling the ends apart.  Go here to see a really good video on how to open and close jump rings.

So get the jump ring open, holding onto it with the pliers.

And start adding the buttons that are already wired.  Just slide the metal loop onto the jump ring.

Slide the earring wire onto the jump ring and close the ring when the earring is as full as you want.  Repeat for the second earring, making sure you put the same number of beads on each earring.

TaDa!! That pair is done!

OK, if you go the other route where you need to add the wire to the bead….start by putting a head pin through a bead, pulling it snug and then folding the wire down around your round nose pliers. 

There is basically no way for me to explain this and photograph this while I am doing it, so go here to see how to do this.  That site is great for a lot of basic information on how to use different tools and make just about any kind of jewelry, well worth the time to visit.

So here is the end result…

Now just repeat the same steps to make the earrings.  For this second pair I used shorter wired beads and the beads that I wired. 

You can see that the ones I wired are a bit bigger and the wire is longer, so they hang down farther.

TaDa!!!

So now, I decided to use some small “scrap” beads left over from other projects.  I just slid them onto a head wire and made my little loop and strung them on the jump rings the same way.

I love this combo of blues and browns and natural colors together.

TaDa!!! (I’m sure that surprised you, huh?)

You can also use just a few wires on each earring. This is a simple combo that makes a very pretty earring.

I am linking to these great parties!