Putting on the Glitz! - Crystal-Filled Mesh Tube Earrings

Are you rushed for time and still needing a great pair of earrings for the festive season?

Well, here's a quick and easy pair that are glam enough for your Christmas celebrations yet they are sleek and modern, making them perfect for ringing in the New Year. These tear drop earrings use mesh tube to hold sparkly gold and clear crystals and then they're topped with filigree cone ends to finish off the look.

Here's what you'll need to make your Putting on the Glitz! earrings:

• 14 4mm Preciosa Aurum bicones
• 20 4mm Preciosa AB Crystal bicones
• 2 gold filigree 4-petal bead caps 17x12mm
• 4mm white mesh tubing (this one is similar)
• 2 4x9mm Gold Foldover Cord Ends
• 2 gold head pins
• 2 gold earring wires

Tools: chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, flush cutters, scissors.

Tip: Nylon Mesh Tubing will fray and unravel a bit as you work with it so always allow a little more than you need for your project.
 
Cut an 11cm (4 ⅜") length of tube meshand insert three Aurum bicones into the opening.

Hold the tube half way along with one hand and the bead end with the other. Push your hands together to compress the mesh and the beads will move down the tube.

Centre them in the mesh.

Insert two AB Crystal bicones and one Aurum bicone into the tube and move them along to the centre beads.

Repeat at the other end.

Add two more AB crystals and one more Aurum crystal to each end. Insert one AB crystal on each end.

Line up the two end crystals in the tube and trim the mesh to 10mm (⅜").

Lay the two ends into the foldover cord ends, side by side.

Fold the flap down and hold it in position with the chain nose pliers. Fold the two side flaps towards the centre.

Flatten the flaps with the chain nose pliers to make sure the tube mesh is secure.

Open the loop of the eye pin and hook on the cord end.

String on the bead cap. Grip the eye pin above the bead cap and bend it sideways above the pliers to create a neck.

Use the round nose pliers to create a loop and then wrap the tail around the neck two or three times. Trim the excess close to the neck.

Attach the loop to the earring wire and then make a second earring to match.

It's always great to have versatile jewellery in your collection and this pair is just that - not only will they make great Christmas and New Year earrings but they are dressy enough for a night out on the town or for a special occasion. Why not switch up the colours and create your own look!

Pin this Project!

'Til next time.....

If you can't get enough of My Tutorials and you want even more inspiration, click here to find my books and printable pdfs