These earrings use just a few beads and spacers. Rather than wire work, which is how I make most earrings, these beads are strung onto bead stringing wire and finished with crimps and wire protectors.

Iolite is a pretty stone, and was know as the gem of the Vikings. You can read the fascinating story here.

As I mention in the video, the possibilities for these earrings are endless. Any beads you can string, you can make into this style of earring. Crystals, pearls, gemstones, metal beads, you name it. How about multiple loops of seed beads in different sizes?

Share photos of your projects based on this tutorial at my Facebook page in the “Your Creations” album.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Viking Iolite Earrings Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Materials:

• 14 iolite beads
• 16 black glass seed beads
• 2 6-inch pieces bead stringing wire
• 4 wire protectors
• 4 crimps
• 2 4mm jump rings
• 2 ear wires

Tools:

• chain nose pliers
• wire cutters
• crimping pliers or the One Step Crimper

Directions for each earring:

1. Onto one piece of bead stringing wire slide a crimp, then slide wire into one end of wire protector and out the other. Slide the wire end back through the crimp and bring crimp to within 1/8-inch of wire protector.
2. Use crimping pliers or the One Step Crimper to finish crimp or flatten crimp with chain nose pliers. Squeeze ends of wire protector together. Trim shorter piece of wire close to crimp.
3. Onto wire slide an alternating pattern of iolite beads and seed beads, beginning and ending with seed beads.
4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to finish wire end.
5. Open a jump ring and slide on loops of both wire protectors and loop of an ear wire. Close jump ring securely.

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