https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/photographing-jewelry • Posted by Princess Pam-attitude
Make some statement earrings by layering lots of beads above a cute charm or fancy bead. Easy to make earrings that really WOW! When working with beads lighting is so important! That's why I love to use a desk light with a bendable neck, I can position it just where I need to see the color and sparkle of beads. My new found favorite is the OttLite Craft Space Organizer. It has lots of space to lay out all my tools and wire, while offering a natural light so I can see what the true colors of things like gemstones are. I upgraded from an OttLite Craft Caddy, which is portable, so I've de-cluttered it and now I can take it across the house anytime I need an little extra natural light for when I take photos of my crafts. I've had my Craft Caddy for about 5 years with the same bulb, I expect the new Space Organizer to be just as amazing!
Make some statement earrings by layering lots of beads above a cute charm or fancy bead. Easy to make earrings that really WOW! When working with beads lighting is so important! That's why I love to use a desk light with a bendable neck, I can position it just where I need to see the color and sparkle of beads. My new found favorite is the OttLite Craft Space Organizer. It has lots of space to lay out all my tools and wire, while offering a natural light so I can see what the true colors of things like gemstones are. I upgraded from an OttLite Craft Caddy, which is portable, so I've de-cluttered it and now I can take it across the house anytime I need an little extra natural light for when I take photos of my crafts. I've had my Craft Caddy for about 5 years with the same bulb, I expect the new Space Organizer to be just as amazing!
Pick your charm or focal bead first. Then start making an assortment of coordinating beads. I stuck with the colors that were on my owl charms and some soft blues and really liked the star beads, because the owl is sleeping. I just started adding in other beads that matched. You only need 2 or 4 of each bead, and you need even numbers of beads to make the earrings match.
Turn all the beads you think you'll need into dangles by putting them on a headpin, take your nippers and trim it above the bead about 1/4 inch and using the round nose pliers to make a loop. Use your jump rings to make a chain as long as you like, that will connect the earring wire to the charm. The longer the chain the more beads you will need.
Attach your bead dangles to the chain. Its usually a good idea to go from the largest at the bottom and work your way up to the top saving the smallest beads for last, otherwise your tiny beads might get lost under the others. But feel free yo use them in any order, and as fillers for any gaps you see. I hold my earrings up after every few beads to see how it hangs and any holes I need to fill. When there are no gaps left your finished! You might not use all the beads you put on headpins, I didn't. But you can always use them in your next project.
You can use the same technique with fewer beads to make to make a charm for smaller earrings or a necklace like I did for this foxy charm.