Cascading Star Loop Earrings - Mixed Metal add an unexpected twist

If you're looking for some festive earrings that are a little out of the ordinary, then these Cascading Star Loop earrings might be just what you're looking for. Instead of adding red to gold and silver, add a sprinkling of copper beads for a less traditional look. It will add warmth and contrast to the design whilst retaining the glitz of gold and silver. The clusters of stars will add the Christmassey feel to the earrings.

Tip: This project uses memory wire to form the circular sections giving uniformity and stability to the design but if you find it difficult to turn small loops on pieces of memory wire, you can use wire instead. Choose the heaviest gauge wire that will fit through the Delicas.

Here’s what you’ll need:

·           Two 11mm silver embossed stars

·           Four 6mm engraved gold stars

·           Six 5mm gold stars

·           Two silver 3 to 1 end connectors

·           Thirty-six #10Galvanized Pink Blush Delica beads

·           Sixty-four #11Galvanized Silver Delica beads

·           Silver ring size memory wire

·           Two ballend earring wires

·           Two silver ball end head pins

·           Twelve 4mm jump rings

Tools: memory wire shears, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, flush cutters

Tip: Always use memory wire shears to cut the steel memory wire. Using your regular wire cutters will permanently damage them.

Cut three rings from the memory wire.

Using the very tip of the round nose pliers, make a small inward facing loop on one end of each of the three coils of memory wire. The easiest way to do this is to rotate your wrist whilst using your thumb and forefinger to push the wire against the jaws of the pliers. You will need to repeat this two or three times to complete the loop. This will help you form a fully closed loop.

Repeat on each of the three coils.

String the Delicas and star beads onto the three coils using the photo as a guide for the stringing order.

Trim each coil leaving just enough wire beyond the beads to form a small loop. To work out where to cut the wire, measure the distance between the loop you formed and the cut end. This is how much wire you need to form a matching loop. 

The three coils should now look like this.

String a silver star onto a head pin. Bend the wire at a 90° angle and trim it to 10mm (3/8”).

Turn a simple loop.

Open the loop and hook it onto the middle of the three loops on the connector.

Connect the smallest and medium coils by hooking a jump ring to one end of the small coil and the beaded section of the medium coil. Connect on the other side in the same way.

Connect the medium coil to the largest coil in the same manner.

Connect the large coil to the end connector with jump rings.

Open the loop of the ball end earring wire and slip then top loop of the end connector onto the earring wire. Make sure that it is facing the front.

Make a second earring with the remaining components.

It's not too late to start making Christmas earrings and if you need more inspiration, check out my Twelve Days of Christmas Earrings ebook series. You are sure to find something perfect to get you in the festive mood. 

'Til next time.....

Want to learn how to make jewellery? Click here to find my books and printable pdfs