How To Make Your Own "You Are Made Of Magic Earrings"

Remember that time in nursery education when you had to form a line up of words out of building blocks? Then as our cognitive, social and creative problem-solving development advanced, we started imagining and trying new ways of doing things.

The creative play started getting exciting as we got older, we began to manipulate materials, opening new doors to endless possibilities that creativity brings. We started to string together words using the alphabet blocks to make pieces of jewellery.

Well, fast forward years later, personalised jewellery is now the freshest trend on the streets. You can write names of people that mean the world to you, affirmations and favourite slogans.

I'm a lover of quotes and affirmations, recently I've experimented with fresh ways to wear my statements as part of my body adornment. Having these words close to me is like an armour that shields me from moments when I slip into self-doubt, which we all encounter daily. 

One of those ideas I came up with is a pair of earrings. I want to share with you step by step guides on how you can make your very own pair, with your own personalised words.

Here we go!

Beads and Findings:

28 x 80mm Eye Pins

8  x Three Shaped Connectors

68 x Round Brass Discs

4 x Ribbon Clamps

2 x Ear Fish Hooks

Alphabet Acrylic Beads

Glass Seed Beads

Tools:

Side Cutters

Round Nose Pliers

Flat Nose Pliers

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1

Thread glass seed beads onto the four eye pins, trim the ends of the eye-pins with side cutters, and form a loop with round nose pliers. Repeat the process for the eye pins with the alphabet beads, and insert the brass discs in between each letter.

STEP 2

Step 1 looks like this when completed

STEP 3

Line up all nine layers of the beaded eye pins and insert an eye pin through the loops on each eye pin, making sure your words are facing the right direction. Upon reaching the end of the last loop, trim the eye pin with side cutter and form a loop with round nose pliers to close.

STEP 4

Slide open the loop on an eye pin with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open eye pin through the loop of the eye pin with the threaded beads, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers. Insert the opposite end of the eye pin through the loop on the other end, trim down with side cutter, and form a loop with round nose pliers, making sure the loop is secured inside the trimmed eye pin and close.

STEP 5

Insert the eye pins through the ribbon clamp, making sure each beaded eye pin is placed in between the teeth of each clamp.

STEP 6

You can use either a rolling pin like I've used in the picture or flat nose pliers to flatten the ribbon clam. I used the rolling pin with a slight pressure over the clam to close; this gives a smooth finish and prevents scratches on the surface of the clam.

STEP 7

Slide open the loop on an eye pin with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open eye pin through the loop of the eye pin with the threaded beads, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers. Thread the beads onto the eye pin and insert through the loop on each eye pin. Repeat until you reach the loop of the fifth eye pin.

STEP 8

Upon reaching the fifth loop, trim the eye pin with side cutters and form a loop with round nose pliers, pinch to close with your flat nose pliers.

STEP 9

Open up the loop on another eye pin with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open eye pin through the loop of the eye pin with the threaded beads, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers.

STEP 10

Thread the beads and repeat step seven. Upon reaching the last loop, trim down the eye pin to size with side cutters, and form a loop to close with round nose pliers.

STEP 11

Slide open the loop on a three shaped connector with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open connector through the loop in the charm, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers.

STEP 12

Thread the open end of the three shaped connectors through the loop in the middle of the beaded eye pins, and pinch to close with flat nose pliers.

STEP 13

Repeat step eight for the opposite ends of the loops on the eye pin.

STEP 14

Slide open the loop on a three shaped connector with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open connector through the loop in the ribbon clam, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers. Insert the other end of the connector through the loop of the second ribbon clam and twist the loop again to close with flat nose pliers. Close the upper ribbon clam by applying slight pressure on the roller pin. As you move the pin over the clam, make sure all the teeth in the clam are tightly closed.

STEP 15

Insert an eye pin through the clamp, trim the other end of the eye pin with side cutters and form a loop to close with round nose pliers.

Open up the loop on another eye pin with your flat nose pliers by twisting it open to the side, thread the open eye pin through the loop in the eye pin, and twist the loop to close with flat nose pliers.

 STEP 16

Thread seed beads onto the eye pin, the ear fish hook in the middle, then further seed beads. Insert the other end of the eye pin through the loop on the opposite end, trim down to size with side cutters, and form a loop with round nose pliers to close.

STEP 17

Voila, well done, you have completed one side of your earring. Now, repeat the same process for the other side for a complete pair.