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Happy endings—
Oh no! It’s (insert impending occasion) . . . and I still haven’t made a gift yet!
That
thought used to send panic through my veins, but not lately. I can
whip up some earrings pretty instantly now, and I have a secret
ingredient that makes even simple earrings look extra special—end cones.
With end cones and a few other items you're bound to have on hand, you can make unique earrings in minutes—especially the last minute!
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Collect end cones
The variety
of material and shapes and their afforable prices make cones the perfect
finding to stock up on. You can buy new ones at every LBS or show
without going broke, and feel satisfied that you've brought home
something great for your stash. Buy in pairs, of course, but if there
are different sizes, try one larger one, because end cones also make
great single pendants. Shown here clockwise from top: cast silver, Sonoran glass, craft-store copper, my own coiled Parawire, grooved Thai silver, Kabela Designs brass filigree, Nina Designs floral silver. |
Here are just four of the easy and fast techniques I use to make earrings
with end cones:
1: Stop bead and head pin dangle
String
a seed bead as a stopper bead on a head pin. Thread on several fine
chains of varying lengths. Pull the head pin through your cone from wide
end to small end to snug the chains into the cone. Add another bead if
needed to fill the small cone hole; make a wrapped loop on which you
can now attach an ear wire. Add small wire-wrapped dangles to the ends
of the chains, or use jump rings to add other charms.
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2: Head-pin-loop dangle
Similar
to the way I make a fine chain dangle, this method works for larger
links of chain or capturing other jump ring components. Make a small
closed loop with the head of a head pin, capturing your chain links or
other dangles. Thread through the cone, snugging your chains inside the
cone. Make a wire-wrapped loop with the remaining wire protruding out
at the small end of the cone.
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3: Fancy head-pin drop
String
beads onto a decorative end head pin. I’ve used a large crystal pearl to
fill the wide end of my cone. Pass your head-pin wire through the cone
to protrude from the small end. Make a wire-wrapped loop that will
snug beads against the wide end of the cone.
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4: Eye-pin charm dangle
Open
the eye of the eye pin and capture the loop of a charm. Thread enough
small beads on the pin to fill the pin length within the cone and
leave the charm dangling below the cone, and have enough wire
protruding for a wrapped loop at the small end of the cone. Pass the
beaded wire into the wide end and out the small end. String another
small bead if needed or desired on the protruding wire. Make your
wire-wrapped loop to snug the dangle inside the cone.
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Find tons of fast and easy gift ideas among our enticing eProjects in our online store and come up with your own fabulous last-minute gifts. Your occasions should always have happy endings!
Got a nifty trick for fast and fabulous jewelry projects? Come on, share your secret on Beading Daily!
Filed under: Chain Maille, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Earring Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry