Crystal and Metal Lace Earrings

Designer: Dale Nicholson

Time required: 1 hour

Intro Copy:  Start with delicate metal filigree shapes in a warm gold tone and transform them into stunning chandeliers with the sparkle and accent of bicones from Create your Style with Swarovski Elements™. A simple “wire stitching” method of a contrast crystal makes them extra special and dramatic.  With so many colors to choose from you will want to make many different styles and experiment.

The sample shown here uses FERN with the gold metal lace shapes. A great combination is INDICOLITE with silver metal lace shapes.   

What You Need:
Create your Style with Swarovski Elements™:
6mm crystal bicone beads in your color (16 pcs)
4mm crystal bicone beads in your color (14 pcs)

Laliberi™:
Metal Lace Round Wheel Clusters, Gold (2 pcs)

Other supplies:
Ear wires (2 pcs)
26 gauge wire spool, gold
Head pins (2 pcs)
Eye pins (2 pcs)

What To Do:

1. Cut a 12” piece of gold wire. Place one wire end on the dip between the rounds and wrap it a few times to secure.
2. Thread on a 6mm crystal and then wrap the wire a few times to bring it over to the next dip. Repeat this until the entire outer edge has a crystal in place. Do Not Cut the Wire!
3. Wrap the wire into the center and repeat the same process using 4mm crystals. When all are in place, wrap the wire end a few times to secure; trim ends cleanly.
4. Use a head pin to create a dangle with 6 and 4mm crystals.  Make a wire wrap to secure it to the bottom of the crystal embellished chandelier.
5. Use an eye pin to make a connector with a 6mm crystal. Attach connector to embellished chandelier and ear wire.
6. Repeat to make second earring.

 Project Tips, Notes, & Techniques:  When threading and wrapping wire, handle the wire as gently as can be. Less crimps and twists makes for an easier process with smooth clean results. If a wire piece breaks, simply unwrap some to secure and then add on another piece by securing it in another area and then wrapping over to the area that needs to be completed.