Independence Day Fireworks Earrings Tutorial

Mix & match your favorite shades of red, white and blue -- we used Siam, Light Siam, Alabaster, Opal, Sapphire and Capri, but linked in a few other shades below as well.

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue

Designer Tips

• Cut 6 matching pairs of chain links: 7 links, 9 links, 11 links, 13 links, 15 links, and 18 links.
  Tip: To use just 1 foot of chain total, you can cut all of these 2 links shorter.
• Open a jump ring, and add the longest chain first, then 13 and 7 on one side, 15 and 9 on the other side. Add to the base of an ear wire, and securely close jump ring. (Use 2 pairs of pliers.)
• Decide which colors of beads you want in which locations. For the 3 shortest chains, put a crystal bicone on a ball-end head pin, and make a simple loop. (Keep all loops the same length. See Basic Jewelry-Making Techniques sheet for tips.) Put one on each of the 3 shorter chains.

• For the longer chains, add each crystal to an eye pin, trim and make a loop. Add stars to the bottom of each, and hang each off a long chain.
• Repeat for other earring, but be sure to reverse the pattern (shortest chain on left side of one earring; shortest chain on right side of the other earring).

• Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF)
• Blog post: Quick tip: how to cut equal chain lengths

Suggested Supplies

• 2 feet [use 12.5"] #40-090-11-1 Chain, Footage, Cable, Diamond Cut, 2.1mm
• 1 dozen [use 6] #44-418-1 Charm, Star, 9x7mm
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-20 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Siam Red
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-21 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Light Siam
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-160 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Silver Shade
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-134 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - White Alabaster
  -or-
  1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-30 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - White Opal
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-18 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Sapphire
• 1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-25 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Capri
  -or-
  1 dozen [use 2 beads] #05-328-04-463 Swarovski 5328 Faceted XILION Bicone Beads, 4mm - Majestic Blue
• 1 ounce [use 6] #37-721-3 Eye Pin, 7/8", Standard
• 1 gross [use 2] #34-323-3 French Hook Ear Wire, Bead and Coil
• 1 pkg of 100 [use 6] #37-091-15-3 Head Pin, 1.5", Thin, Ball End
• 1 ounce [use 2 #37-136-3 Jump Ring, Round, 5mm

Tools

• Wire Cutters
• Round-Nose Pliers
• Flat-Nose Pliers