One of the things I love about earring making is that (most) beaded earrings can be made in a day or less.

Take these Corona Crystal earrings by Pilar Burg from the 2 ! issue of Step By Step Beads "" in #ust a fe$ hours% you can have a set of earrings and a matching &endant% using beads you already have in your stash' Try substituting gemstone rounds or even cubes for the crystal bicones and see $hat other variations you can create. Materials:

( bicone (mm crystals .) gram si*e ++ or si*e +) ,a&anese seed beads -ireline . lb. test /ar $ires of your choice

Tools:

0+2 beading needle -ireline . lb. test 1cissors or thread cutter 2ound nose &liers

Making the Crystal Medallion Step 1. 1tring a needle onto a +yard length of -ireline% leaving an 34 tail. 1tring the inside of the medallion as follo$s for a total of +2 beads5 + si*e ++6 seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal (-igure +).

Step 2. Tie the beads into a circle using a surgeon7s knot. Pass through the circle to e8it bead 9 (-igure 2).

Step 3. 1tring 9 seeds% + crystal% 9 seeds% ski& the ne8t crystal in the circle and &ass through the seed bead ) (-igure 9).

Step 4. Continue around the circle% re&eating the bead &attern in 1te& 9% &assing through the seed beads :% !% ++% + and e8iting bead 9 (-igure ().

Step 5. Pass through the ne8t 9 seeds and crystal% beads +9" +.. 1tring + seed% + crystal% + seed and &ass through the ne8t crystal% bead 29 (-igure )).

Step 6. Continue around the circle% re&eating the bead &attern in 1te& )% &assing through beads 9 % 9:% ((% )+% and e8iting bead (crystal) +. (-igure .).

Step 7. Pass back through outer circle of beads created in 1te&s ) and . to tighten the circle% e8iting crystal bead )+. ;o not &ull too snug or the sha&e $ill cu&. <not the $orking thread to e8isting thread bet$een beads in several half hitches% but do not cut the thread.

Making the Bail

Step 8. 1tring + seed% + crystal% + seed% + crystal% + seed and &ass back through bead )+ (-igure :). 2einforce% &assing &ass back through the beads #ust added% beads )2").% and continue through beads )2% )9 and )(.

Step . 1tring . seeds and &ass back through bead )(. 2e&eat through the loo& of beads again including bead )( to reinforce (-igure 3).

Step 1!. -or added security% &ass through beads added in ste& 3 (-igure :). Step 11. =eave thread into beads and tie off using half"hitch knots. Trim. Thread a needle on the tail and $eave that into the beads> trim. Step 12. ?sing round"nose &liers% o&en the loo& on an ear $ire. 1li& the loo& of the ear $ire through the loo& of seeds at the to& of the medallion. Close the loo& of the ear $ire. 2e&eat 1te&s +"+2 to make a second earring. Bead @a&&y%