Designer Crafts Connection: Handmade Gifts

Hi Everyone!

This month on the Designer Crafts Connection tour we're creating handmade gifts.  Nothing says you care like a handmade gift, but sometimes it's the last minute and you need one right now!  My "go-to" gift solution is usually a pair of earrings.  One size fits most and most of my girlfriends and family have pierced ears, so it's a gift that everyone likes. 

These earrings are a fun pair for summer wear - neon bright and swing-y!  And, they are so easy to make that you can make one pair for a gift and a pair for yourself!

Neon Swing Earrings

To make these earrings, you'll need:

Flexible bead stringing wire:  16"
Black glass beads:  4mm, 10; 6mm, 4
Swarovski Round Pearls:  Neon Yellow, 8mm, 2; Neon Orange, 5mm, 8; Neon Pink, 3mm, 12
Gunmetal crimp beads:  4
Gunmetal ear wires:  2
Wire cutters, crimping pliers, chain-nose pliers

1.  Cut the wire in half.  
2.  Center beads on wire.  See photo for arrangement.
3. Slide a crimp bead over both ends of wire leaving a two-inch long loop.  Crimp the crimp bead and trim one wire.
4.  Slide on a small black bead and another crimp bead.  Bring wire back through crimp bead leaving a small loop.  Crimp and trim.
5.  Open ear wire loop and attach to earring loop.  Close loop.  Repeat for the second earring.

There you go!  One quick gift!  

Happy crafting!

Terry 

PS  Check out what the other designers have created for gift giving!  Just click on the big blue DCC button!