On Day 2 of the Twelve Days of Christmas I made a pair of icicle ornament earrings and today, in the spirit of decorating your Christmas tree, I bring you baubles. But these aren't any ordinary baubles; these are angels in disguise! The frame holding the gorgeous Czech spindle bead in place is made of two pairs of wings. Take a look in your findings stash and see if you have other components which can do double duty like these wings - you'll be amazed at how different they will look! For more ideas on how to use your jewellery findings in unusual ways, check out my new book: Fabulous Jewelry from Findings - it's packed full of creative ideas for turning findings into amazing jewellery!
Here's what you'll need:
- 4 x 40mm gold wings
- 2 x 20x40mm silver ovals
- 2 18x7mm red Czech glass spindle beads with Picasso finish
- 2 4mm Lt Siam Swarovski bicones
- 2 gold eye pins
- 2 gold ball head pins
- 2 4mm gold jump rings
- 2 gold earring wires
Tools: chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers, round nose pliers, flush cutters
Other: 5-minute epoxy, tooth pick, wooden stir stick and a disposable plastic lid to mix the adhesive on.
String a bicone
on a head pin and bend it a 90° angle right above the bead. If you use flat nose pliers, you'll be able to get closer to the bead than with chain nose pliers.
Trim the end to 8mm (5/16") and turn a simple loop.
String a pair of wings on the eye pin (right way up), a spindle bead and then another pair of wings (upside down) so that they form a frame around the bead.
Use the flat nose pliers to bend the eye pin at a 90° angle, trim it to 8mm (5/16") and turn a loop.
Open the loop of the bicone and attach it to one of the eye pin loops.
Mix up the 5-minute epoxy adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions and apply a small amount on the metal above and below the spindle bead.
Centre the oval on the adhesive and allow it to set. Apply adhesive at any other points where the oval touches the wings.
Open the jump ring and hook on the bauble and the earring wire, making sure that the oval faces the back of the earring.
Make a second earring to match.
This is another really quick pair of Christmas earrings to make and whilst they look festive at this time of the year, they are not so Christmassey that they can't be worn at other times of the year - they are very versatile like that!
So, what's up next? Well, check back in later in the week to see what I come up with!
'Til next time.....
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