Free Beading Project Idea: 6 DIY Dangle Earrings

Mediterranean Dangles

Designer Kristen Fagan

Materials
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter - 16"
20ga Bronze Soft Flex Craft Wire - 6"
4mm Opal Aqua Fire Polish Beads from Beadaholique - 12 pcs
6mm TierraCast Gold Plated Deco Cube Beads from Art Beads - 8 pcs
2x2mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs

Tools
Magical Crimping Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Cutters
Wire Whacker
Burr Cup

Instructions

Step 1: Cut Soft Flex Beading Wire into two 8" lengths, one for each earring. String crimp tube, one turquoise fire polish bead, one gold plated spacer bead and one turquoise fire polish bead. Take the other end of the wire make a circle back through the crimp tube for your first loop.

Step 2: Using the tail that went through the crimp for the loop, string your beads for the second loop. Alternate 1 turquoise fire polish bead and 1 gold plated bead until you have 4 turquoise fire polish beads and 3 gold plated beads.

Step 3: Take your wire tail and feed it through the crimp tube again making your second loop. Adjust wires until you are happy with size of both loops. When ready, use your magical crimping pliers to close the crimp tube.  Click here for Magical Crimping Pliers instructions.

Step 4: Finally, trim off the excess wire close to the crimp. Make your second earring dangle the same way. When making the second earring pay attention to the loop sizes of both loops before crimping.

Step 5: Now, we'll make two ear wires. For the ear wires, cute two 3" lengths of your 20ga Craft Wire. Using your nylon jaw pliers smooth out your wire. Then, create a wire loop on one end of each wire piece with your round nose pliers. Measure your wire piece and at about 1.25" mark use your chain nose pliers to bend the backward. Trim the wire tails to your desired length.

Step 6: Using the wire whacker, work harden the loop area and the front facing portion of the wire, then with the burr cup file down the wire end that goes through your ear.

Step 7: Finally, open your ear wire loops with your chain nose pliers and attach each to your earring dangles.

Simple Teardrop Dangles

Designer Shelley Richey
Skill Level Beginner-Intermediate

Materials
Sterling Silver Ear Wires - 1 pair
24ga Sterling Silver 2" Head Pins - 2 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs
9mm Sterling Silver Drop-shaped Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 silver round bead, 1 drop-shaped bead, and 1 silver round bead.

Step 2: Form a wire wrapped dangle that attaches to 1 ear wire.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make a second earring.

Antique Crystal Dangles

Designer Shelley Richey
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
25x9x10mm Sterling Silver Fan Ear Wires - 1 pair
24 gauge Sterling Silver 1.5" Head Pins - 2 pcs
4.5mm Sterling Silver Open Jump Rings - 2 pcs
37x12x1mm Sterling Silver Loop Pendulum Connectors - 2 pcs
3x6x6mm Sterling Silver Spacer Beads - 4 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs
12mm Clear AB Faceted Round Crystal Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 silver round bead, 1 spacer, 1 crystal, 1 spacer, and 1 silver round bead. Form a wire wrapped dangle that attaches to the bottom loop of 1 connector.

Step 2: Use 1 jump ring to attach the top loop of the connector to 1 ear wire.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make a second earring.

Simple Pearl Dangles

Designer Jamie Hogsett
Skill Level Beginner-Intermediate

Materials
Sterling Silver Ear Wires - 1 pc
2" Sterling Silver 24 gauge Head Pins - 2 pcs
2mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs
2x3mm Sterling Silver Rondelle Beads - 4 pcs
6x4mm White Rice Pearls - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 silver round bead, 1 rondelle, 1 pearl, 1 rondelle, and 1 silver round bead.

Step 2: Form a wire wrapped dangle that attaches to 1 ear wire.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make a second earring.

Calcite Dangles

Designer Shelley Richey
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
Sterling Silver Leaf Ear Wires - 1 pair
24 gauge Sterling Silver 3" Head Pins - 2 pcs
6mm Sterling Silver Spacer Beads - 4 pcs
5mm Sterling Silver Bicone Beads - 4 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs
13x12x6mm Calcite Emerald-cut Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 round bead, 1 bicone bead, 1 spacer, 1 calcite bead, 1 spacer, 1 bicone bead, and 1 round bead.

Step 2: Form a wire wrapped dangle that attaches to 1 ear wire.

Step 3: Repeat Step 1 and 2 to make a second earring.

Amethyst Dangles

Designer Shelley Richey
Skill Level Beginner-Intermediate

Materials
16x5x11mm Sterling Silver Diamond Leverback Ear Wires - 1 pair
24 gauge Sterling Silver 1.5" Head Pins - 2 pcs
2mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs
2x3mm Sterling Silver Rondelle Beads - 4 pcs
6mm Amethyst Faceted Round Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 silver round bead, 1 rondelle, 1 amethyst bead, 1 rondelle, and 1 silver round bead.

Step 2: Form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to 1 ear wire.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make a second earring.

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Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com