Retired - High Drama in Gold Earrings

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Please start by watching the video on How to Make Wire Loops Correctly. You will be making both wrapped wire loops and simple wire loops to construct this earring.
2. Take 1 2" gold plated head pin and snip the head off. At about 1/3 down the length of the wire, start to create a wrapped wire loop. Before you do your wrappings, slip the loop into one of the loops on the side of a square small vine connector link. Finish your wrappings and snip off the tail of the wrapping with flush cutters. Onto the pin, now place 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond, 1 Czech Cathedral 6mm bead in matte crystal with gold ends, and another 3mm bicone. Start to make a wrapped wire loop at the end and before you do your wrappings, slip the loop into one of the loops on the side of a second square small vine connector link. Finish your wrappings and snip off the tail of the wrapping with flush cutters.
3. Repeat the above step, starting from the loop on the small vine connector link opposite the loop you hung the first beads from and incorporating a 3rd small vine connector.
4. From here on out, we are just making simple wire loops. Snip the head off a head pin. Create a simple wire loop on one end. Place onto the wire, 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond, 1 Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum, and another 3mm bicone. Open one of the simple wire loops and connect it to the same loop on the vine that you attached the first set of beads to via a wrapped wire loop. Close the loop. Now open the simple wire loop on the other end and connect this to the loop on the second vine connector next to the loop which the the other beads are attached to (via a wrapped wire loop). Close the loop. Repeat this step on the other side of your earring (see photo).
5. It should now look like you have two sides forming on this earring with a middle vine connector which has an "empty" vine loop at the top and bottom. Snip the head off a head pin and create a simple wire loop at one end. Place onto the wire 1 Czech Cathedral 6mm bead in matte crystal with gold ends. Create a simple wire loop after the bead and cut off excess wire. Open one of the loops and connect it to the top loop of the center vine connector link. Close the loop. Open the simple wire loop on the other end of Cathedral bead and link it to the loop at the base of your ball post earring finding. Close the loop. Snip the head off another head pin and create a simple wire loop at one end. Place onto the wire 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond, 1 Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum, and another 2 3mm bicones, 1 Czech Cathedral 6mm bead in matte crystal with gold ends, another Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum, and another 3mm bicone. Create a simple wire loop after the beads and cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Open the first loop of this beaded segment and attach it to the bottom loop of the top vine connector link (all 4 of the vine loops should now have something one them). Close the loop. Open the loop at the other side of this beaded segment and attach it to a loop on a 4th vine connector link. Close the loop.
6. Please look at the photo frequently during these instructions. Snip the head off a head pin and create a simple wire loop. Place onto the wire, 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond, 1 Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum, and another 3mm bicone. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead and snip off excess wire with flush cutters. Open one of the simple loops and connect it to the bottom vine loop of one of your side vine connector links. Close the loop. Open the simple wire loop at the other end and connect it to the side vine loop of your bottom vine connector link . Repeat this step with another head pin and beads on the other side of your earring.
7. We have created the structure now! All that is left is adding the dangles. Onto a head pin, place 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond and 1 Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead and cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Open the simple wire loop and connect it to the only "empty" vine loop on one of your side vine connector links. Close the loop. Repeat this step on the opposite side of your earring.
8. Onto a head pin place 1 Czech Crystal 3mm bicone bead in black diamond, 1 Czech Crystal 4mm bicone bead in crystal aurum, 1 Czech Cathedral 6mm bead in matte crystal with gold ends, and another 3mm bicone. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead and cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Open that simple wire loop and connect it to the empty vine loop at the base of your bottom vine connector link, close the loop.
9. All done!

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• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex