Lapis Lazuli Teardrop Earrings Tutorial

Why we love this tutorial:

How sweet are these?! I love the dainty look of these earrings, particularly with the beaded ‘petals’ around the outside of the frame. They have a very old-fashioned feel to them, which I am definitely appreciating! These are quite easy to make – simple wrapping of wire is all that is involved. They’re a little time consuming to make, but they take no brain power so they’re ones for in front of the TV!

We’ve used beautiful deep blue Lapis Lazuli beads, some of the new bead caps and silver Artistic Wire. Just like all of our designs, feel free to change up the colours! *Note: As the teardrop we’ve used in the middle might not be available in all stone types, we suggest perhaps using an oval, rice, or two round beads (10mm at the bottom, with a smaller 8mm or 6mm on top).

Beads and Materials You’ll Need:

• about 40cm of 18ga Artistic Wire (we’ve used silver)
• about 2M of 24ga Artistic Wire (we’ve used silver)
• Earhooks (we’ve used silver)
• 2x Ballpins (we’ve used silver)
• 2x Small Bead Caps (we’ve used these)
• 2x 4mm Daisy Spacers (we’ve used silver)
• 2x Drop Beads *see note above (we’ve used Lapis Lazuli)
• 20x 4mm Round Gemstone Beads (we’ve used Lapis Lazuli)
• 42x 2mm round metal spacer beads (we’ve used silver)

Tools You’ll Need:

• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Flush Cutters

Method:

Step 1. Cut your 18ga wire to approx. 20cm. Form a loop at one end using your round nose pliers. Then form the teardrop shape loosely (you can use your fingers, or try to shape it around something cylindrical).

Step 2. Before wrapping the tail, it is helpful to use your flat nose pliers to angle the part of the wire you will be wrapping.

Step 3. Now, take this tail and wrap approx. 2-3 times near the loop.

Step 4. Trim off the excess wire from the tail using flush cutters.

The frame is complete:

Step 5. Now take your 24ga wire and start wrapping up one of the sides towards the loop. Stop once you get to about 3-4mm away from the wraps on the frame.

Step 6. At this point, you need to take the wire across to the other side. The wire that crosses over is left exposed on purpose; you will later hang your dangle off this wire. Continue wrapping down the other side.

Step 7. Now it’s time to add the beads. Thread on a 2mm spacer, 4mm Lapis round bead and another 2mm spacer. Then make two wraps after, making sure the beads stay in the correct position.

Step 8. Then repeat this process the whole way around the frame!

Step 8. Continue your wraps up to meet your original starting off position. Trim using flush cutters.

Step 9. Now it’s time to make the center dangle. Take your ball headpin, thread on the 4mm daisy spacer, the lapis teardrop, the bead cap and another 2mm spacer. Cut the pin leaving about 8mm and form a loop using your round nose pliers.

Step 10. Attach the dangle to the exposed wire on the frame. Close the loop very well to ensure it does not fall off (or make a wrapped loop to make it extra secure).

Step 11. Attach your earwires to the top loop and you’re done!