What you need
2 silver-plated 30mm hoop frames
28 gauge tarnish-resistant silver craft wire
20 Swarovski crystal 4mm bicones
2 silver French hook ear wires
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Instructions
Cut an 18” length of silver craft wire. Leaving a 2” tail, begin wrapping the wire around the hoop frame, starting from the top. Wrap the wire ten times and pull tight. Squeeze the wrapped loops together toward the top of the frame with your fingers or chain nose pliers.
String a crystal bicone onto the wire. Hold the crystal in place on the outer edge of the hoop frame with your non-dominant hand while you wrap the wire ten times around the frame with your other hand. Make the loops as tight as possible, and slide them toward the crystal until they sit next to each other.
Continue alternating between ten wrapped loops and a crystal until you have ten crystals evenly spaced around the hoop frame. Finish with ten more loops.
Trim the wire end close to the hoop frame, tucking the tip of the wire into the loops with your chain nose pliers. Repeat with the other end of the wire.
Grip the loop on the base of one ear wire on either side of the opening with your chain nose and round nose pliers. Twist the pliers away from each other to open the loop. String the wire wrapped hoop frame onto the ear wires using the small hole at the top of the frame. Reverse the twisting motion to close the loop.
Repeat steps 1 to 5 to complete the matching earring.
Once you’ve mastered the basic technique, you can substitute other small beads in any color or shape to adorn the hoop frames. If you decide to use bigger crystals or beads, or if you want your crystals spaced further apart, simply wrap the wire more times around the hoop frame between each bead.
What do you think of this project? Let us know!