Champagne Wishes and Mermaid Dreams Earrings Tutorial

Created by: Veronica Greenwood

Designer Tips

Cut 6 inches of wire and make a small wrapped loop on one end. Make a small loop so the size 11 seeds do not go through.
New to jewelry-making? For step-by-step instructions on making wrapped loops, see Jewelry Basics 101 (PDF).
Thread a needle on 2 yards of thread. Add 1 higher-metallic dark amethyst seed bead as a stopper bead (string on a single bead and tie a single knot -- so it can be removed later), leaving a 6" tail.
String 8 metallic amethyst seed beads, 1 purple luster, 1 amethyst, 1 purple luster, 1 amethyst, 12 purple luster, 1 gold-lined aqua, 1 purple luster, 1 aqua, 1 purple luster, 5 aqua, 1 gold luster tanzanite, 1 aqua, 1 tanzanite, 1 aqua, 10 tanzanite, 1 gold-lined black diamond, 1 tanzanite, 1 black diamond, 1 tanzanite, 22 black diamond.
String through the wrapped loop of your wire.
String 12 black diamond, 1 tanzanite, 1 black diamond, 1 tanzanite, 1 black diamond, 14 tanzanite, 1 aqua, 1 tanzanite, 1 aqua, 1 tanzanite, 5 aqua, 1 purple, 1 aqua, 1 purple, 1 aqua, 14 purple, 1 amethyst, 1 purple, 1 amethyst, 1 purple, 9 amethyst. Skip the last bead and go back up thru all the beads strung, and back through the wrapped loop. Make sure the beads are not too tight, so the fringe hangs loosely.
Repeat 5 more times, always starting with the black diamond. Using a random amount of beads on the black diamond, tanzanite, and purple (I used 5 aqua and 9 amethyst on all 7 of the strands) to get the staggered effect.
Once you have all your strands done, weave down a few beads on one strand, tie a knot, weave down a few more beads tie a knot, weave down a few more beads and cut off.
Untie the knot on your tail, and thread a needle onto the tail. Skipping the last bead, go up through a few beads and tie a knot. Repeat one more time, then go through a few more beads and cut off thread.
Put your wire through the bead cap, and add one of your tanzanite shimmer crystals on top. Wire wrap a loop above the crystal.
Twist open the loop on one ear wire, attach the wrapped loop and twist securely close. Repeat all steps for the other earring.

Suggested Supplies

1 tube #20-111-993 TOHO Glass Beed, Size 11 (2.1mm), Gold-Lined Black Diamond
1 tube #20-111-503 TOHO Glass Beed, Size 11 (2.1mm), Higher-Metallic Dark Amethyst
1 tube #20-111-321 TOHO Glass Beed, Size 11 (2.1mm), Gold-Lustered Light Tanzanite
1 tube #20-111-990 TOHO Glass Beed, Size 11 (2.1mm), Gold-Lined Aqua
1 tube #20-111-201 TOHO Glass Seed Bead, Purple Luster, size 11/0, Translucent, 2.1mm
2 each #27-690-06-AC TierraCast Antiqued Copper Plated Spiral Cone
1 pack (use 2 beads) #05-328-04-643 4mm Crystal Bicone Beads - (Veronica used Tanzanite Shimmer 2X, but it's out of production)
1 pair #34-003-8 TierraCast Earring Hook Findings, Niobium - Bronze and Copper Color
1 pack (use 1 foot) #46-402-30 Artistic Wire Copper Jewelry Wire, 22ga, 45ft - Antique Brass
1 spool (use about 4 yards) #61-004 One-G TOHO Nylon Beading Thread, 50 yards, Beige
1 pair #33-960French wire keepers (optional)