Black Onyx & Carnelian Halloween Drop Earrings
This is a simple project for jewellery making beginners, but the result is stunning Halloween-themed earrings!
Step By Step Instructions
1. Start by wire wrapping the briolette bead. Use side cutters to cut your 0.3mm wire to length - we recommend a length of wire approx 15-20cm for wire wrapping briolettes.
2. Slip the briolette onto the wire around 3-4cm down. Ensure one side of the wire is longer than the other - pinch both ends of wire together at the top of the briolette to form a triangle shape, making sure the briolette is central.
3. Hold both sides of the wire with round nose pliers and bend the longer length to a right angle. At this point, work half way up the plier nose to ensure you allow yourself enough room for a good wrap. If necessary, trim any excess wire on the short side with side cutters.
4. Use round nose pliers to form a loop with the longer side of the wire by bending it to a right angle and wrapping it around the tip of the pliers. Hold the loop flat between the tips of snipe nose pliers and take the long end of wire and use your fingers to tightly wrap it around the stem of the wires - begin at the base and work downwards.
5. Use snipe nose pliers to gently squeeze the coil together and continue to wrap upwards until you reach the top of the bead. Once you're happy with the wrap, use side cutters to trim excess wire and squeeze the end into the coil for a neat finish. For a full tutorial on how to wire wrap a briolette, click here.
6. Next, start by work hardening the 0.6mm wire. Click here for full instructions. Once work hardened, cut the 0.6mm wire in half and start to form a loop with round nose pliers. Catch in the loop of the wire wrapped briolette before you close the loop fully.
7. Thread 5 black onyx beads onto the wire, then start to form another loop. Catch in the loop of the base of the ear wire and close the loop.
8. Repeat the same process for the second earring.
Tools You May Need
Snipe nose pliers or flat nose pliers
Customise Your Kit
Helpful Pages
Read our wire wrapping advice pages with tutorials
Jewellery Making Books
The Basics of Bead Stringing by Debbie Kanan
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