Caged Bead Earrings

You will need:

• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutter
• 24 or 26 gauge wire
• Beads
• Emery board

You don't need earring hooks because I'll be showing you how to make them, but if you want to spare yourself the trouble, you can just make the caged beads, then attach them to the hooks.

First, cut 3 inches of wire, and fold in half. Then, use some flat nose pliers to make the rounded bit as flat as possible, and hammer it to make the metal firm.

Use your round nose pliers to make a loop. Notice that the loop is looped at the bent end, where both straight bits of wire meet. (Sorry, I know this is confusing. If you're still confused, don't hesitate to ask a question in the comment section, or you can study the photos.)

Then, bend the wire so it creates something like a fishing hook. (Please look at the photos)

Cut apart the spot where it loops and connects, so it creates two different hooks.

After it's separated, use your emery board to smooth the end of the hook. (See note)

Cut out 6 inches of wire. (This the trial and error part. My beads had a diameter of about 0.2 inches. If yours are any bigger you'll need a longer piece of wire) Cut in half again, so you have two 3 inch long pieces of wire.

Create two loops facing opposite directions at either end of the wire. Continue swirling/looping them until you get something that looks like a figure 8.

Place your bead on one side of the loops, and fold in half so it cages the bead like a pearl. Adjust the wire so the wire is spaced quite evenly around the bead, and use pliers to pull one end of the loop up.

You will need to do this twice, so you have two caged beads.

Gently slip the loop from the hook into the caged bead's hook, and use the pliers to make sure there is no way either the hook or the cage will slip out.

Hope you will have fun making these earrings too!