Mixed Media Earrings

And I need to look up some photography ideas for earrings.  They just don’t display well flat like that, but I was losing my daylight so I didn’t have time for anything better last night.  Sorry. ;)

Most earrings are a very quick and easy project, but if you’re not used to making charms, you might not know where to start.  So let me show you.

What you’ll need:

• Earring posts (you can make your own from wire, but I assume if you’re making your own, you don’t need to read my tutorial anyway)
• Jewelry pins
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Whatever beads or elements you want your earrings made from.  In my case, I used two hammered rings and two glass pearls.  I also needed two jump rings (I ended up using just the smaller ones).

First, you’ll need to turn your pearls or beads into charms.  To do that, thread it onto the jewelry pin.  If the hole is too big and it falls off, you’ll just need to put a smaller bead on the bottom, or a sequin, or anything that will act like a washer to secure your bead.

Now, loop the top part of the pin over your pliers, and cut off the excess.  And forgive this photo, I really thought it was in-focus when I took it – but it does show you what you should end up with.

Now, if you are just making one charm for your earrings, you can attach it directly to the loop at the bottom of your ear wire right now.  Yes, it’s that easy.  But if you’re adding anything else – like the rings I’m using, you’ll need to add a jump ring – which is also easy.  Just open it up with your pliers, and add all your elements – the charm, the ring, and the ear wire.

Then, just close it – and that’s it for the first earring.  All you have to do now is make another to have a nice pair.

You may remember the bracelet that these go with, right?

     

(If you missed it the first time around – the tutorial for it is here.)

I also have one more piece of news for today, if you’ll bear with me… today is the last day to vote for your favorite charity in the Chase Community Giving event.  If you haven’t already voted for a charity that is special to you, please consider voting for a group I am passionate about – National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

Every November, NaNoWriMo encourages writers of all ages and skill levels to write a novel.  There are groups all over the world participating.  I head up a local writer’s group each November with a couple other fantastic ladies, and funds raised go toward maintaining their website so we can connect with about a quarter million writers everywhere, prizes and giveaways for participating writers, and materials for a special Young Writers’ Program that’s run by volunteers in classrooms to encourage young writers to develop a passion for writing.  There are also a handful of employees at the California headquarters that keep us all in line.  Right now, everything runs on participant donations – but a grant would expand the online resources and provide a greater reach for the program.

 As a NaNoWriMo volunteer, I dedicate my November (well, and most of my October, frankly) to organizing weekly meetings for and providing encouragement to new and seasoned writers alike, all while writing my own first draft of a novel in 30 days (I’m plotting already for this November’s story!) As I write this, we stand in 16th place. Only the top 11 are contenders to receive grants – we are so, SO close, and every vote counts!

So please, if you have a moment to use the Facebook app and vote for NaNoWriMo, I’d really appreciate it!!

I link up to these great parties!