Wearing a holiday pair of earrings is a fun way to get into the festive mood. They also make a great gift. So I was not surprised when someone recently dug through my bead collection looking to make some Christmas earrings. I didn't have any Christmas tree beads in glass, metal or charms but there are other ways of making this holiday classic. So here are some ideas and tutorials from the Beading Gem to get your creative juices flowing.

Shape
Find triangular beads like those in my earrings here, or perhaps even arrowhead beads to get the tree shape. Solid cone glass beads are also perfect but these are harder to find. Those metal cones (see middle design) lurking in any beadaholic's arsenal are great alternatives for a funky metallic look.

Stacking
Use diminishing sizes of rondelle, flower or disc beads. Fire Mountain Gems has this popular Swarovski Crystal design tutorial.

Wire Work
Like working with wire? Then you will enjoy this spiral tree tutorial design from Wigjig.

Wrapturewirejewelry has an awesome free tutorial (shown on left) which was originally published in Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry that you can download for free.

I also like this wire and bead Christmas tree inspired tutorial. It's actually ornaments but make them small enough and they will be earrings!



Friendly Plastic
Friendly plastic comes in gorgeous colors and can easily be fused together. This lovely set is by Jana Ewy.


Beadweaving using seed beads
  • Beadjewelrymaking has a Christmas tree charm tutorial which definitely can be made in earrings

  • Christina Wojcik's brick stitch design is one of my favourite tutorials to learn this stitch as you can see from my rightmost earrings pictured way above (update :  tutorial link no longer available).
Chain maille
This simple chain maille pair by Auntie's Beads is rather like a Christmas tree. They have a video tutorial. Alternatively check out the Japanese maille style earrings from Metaldesignz for inspiration.


This alternative chain maille Christmas tree is by Emily of For the Love of Beads (link no longer available). The green color is definitely festive!








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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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