Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Save time with pre-drilled blanks and create a pair of fun earrings with size 11/0 TOHO or Delica seed beads in Scandinavian colors. "Tivoli" means "funfair" in Swedish.Created by: Summer MelaasDesigner TipsStretch and wax 2-1/2 yards (2.25 meters) of thread.Follow pattern, and using an edging stitch, put your first row of beads on one of the half moons. One column (fringe) at a time, add beads. At the bottom of the fringe, skip over the last bead added, then run your needle and thread back up t …

Created by: Veronica GreenwoodDesigner TipsThis design uses some of the palest sunstone beads on the mixed strand, but the color choices are up to you!Put one sunstone bead on your head pin. Using a wrapped loop attach your loop to the second link down on the chain of your ear thread. Finish wrapping your loop.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for step-by-step instructions on making wire-wrapped loops.Repeat this step four more times attaching your loops to ev …

Created by: Veronica Greenwood Designer TipsCut a piece of wire and make a wrapped loop on one end. Attach your loop to your ear thread. Add one purple (amethyst) bead to the wire and finish your loop.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for step-by-step instructions on making wire-wrapped loops.Repeat linking 5 more times with colors dark blue, light blue, green, yellow and orange.For the end, use a red bead and head pin, and do a wrapped loop to attach to the l …

Created by: Rita HutchinsonThis might be the easiest pair of earrings you ever make!Designer TipsPlace the CZs face down on the rubber block. Center the post prongs over the stone. Push down straight until you hear a click.Really -- that's it!If you have sensitive fingers or weak hands, you could hold the post in a ring vise or flat-nose pliers.Suggested Supplies1 pair #32-621-04 1/20, 14kt Gold-Filled Snap-in Post Earring Setting1 dozen (use 2 pieces) #33-614 Gold-Filled Earring Backs, Butterfl …

Created by: Mollie Valente Designer TipsTwist a jump ring to open it extra wide.Loop the jump ring around a single pearl in the pearl ball bead.Attach the loop of an ear thread to the jump ring.Twist the jump ring closed.Repeat to make the second earring.The long 5" ear threads also allow you to wear the earrings in an asymmetrical fashion, with the pearl balls suspended at different lengths.If you have double pierced ears, the long-chain tail can be swagged back through a second piercing.You ca …

Created by: Summer MelaasDesigner TipsLay out 10 sunstone beads in an ombre pattern (lightest to darkest).Cut two feet of the 26g wire.Wrap a few tight wraps at the top of the wire part of the ear thread, and thread one bead on the wire. Holding the bead tight in place, wrap the wire twice around the ear thread.Repeat until you have wrapped all the beads down to the loop at the bottom of the ear thread. Cut off excess wire. Using your chain nose plier, pinch the ends of the wrapped wire to tight …

Created by: Summer Melaas Designer TipsOpen a jump ring.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for most secure way to open and close jump rings.Add an opal charm to the jump ring, and connect to the loop on the ear thread, using two chain nose pliers.Repeat for other earring.Suggested Supplies1 pair #53-001-5 Vermeil Ear Thread, 5", 2.5mm Closed Jump Ring2 each #21-343-01-999 6mm 14kt Gold-Filled Bello Opal Drop Charm - Blue Opal1 10pack (use 2 pieces) #37-391-240 …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsString the 4.5mm round corrugated bead onto the head pin.String two rubber earring backs onto the head pin, the first one positioned against the 4.5mm round corrugated bead with the second one positioned about 11mm apart. The earring backs serve as bead adjusters for the large-hole mirage bead.String the Mirage bead onto the head pin and slide it over the rubber earring backs. The earring backs should be hidden just inside the Mirage bead (adjust their posi …

Created by: Rings & Things StaffDesigner TipsStack one aquamarine bead, one twisted spacer and one citrine onto each eye pin, and make a wire-wrapped looop to close at each end, making sure to attach starfish charm to the aquamarine ends before finishing.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for step-by-step instructions on making wire-wrapped loops.Attach other end loops to ear wires.Suggested Supplies1 strand (use 2 beads) #21-886-615 Matte Aquamarine 6mm Ro …

Created by: Amy Mickelson   Designer TipsIf you buy spools of chain for various projects, you inevitably end up with scrap pieces. These left overs are too short for necklaces or maybe too fine a style to use for bracelet projects. And if you're like me, you may have a bag of random lengths you don't want to throw away. This DIY project creates a pair of tassel style earrings in less than 30 minutes.Since you are using scraps, and mixed metal jewelry remains in fashion, you don't need to ma …