Rubber Tubing and Beads Hoop Earrings |
Do you have hoop earrings that have lost their appeal because the plating has worn off? It's another reason to make fun cover up hoop earrrings. Instead of throwing them away, restyle them with yarn, trimmings, fabric, felt, ribbon and even rubber tubing!
Also check the links below for past posts on the different ways of making hoop earrings and wire wrapping beads.
Rubber Tubing Hoop Earrings
Rubber tubing easily adds color to hoops.These are available in all sorts of colors from jewelry suppliers. The largest gauge wire you can use is 20G which is very snug. I suggest 22G to make life easier. Even better, just use memory wire especially if you like BIG earrings. This stainless steel wire keeps it shape so you won't accidentally bend the wire as you are slipping on the rubber tubing.
Cut two overlapping rounds of memory wire. Shown here are the small bracelet size coils which will make large hoop earrings. Remember to use proper wire cutters not your flush cutters. My friend and co-instructor Debbie swears by her memory wire cutters. Use an Exacto (X-acto) knife or razor blade to cut up the rubber tubing into shorter lengths.
Slip on the tubing and beads. It's easier if you keep both ends of the memory wire open so you can add the beads from either end. Saves a lot of grief if you change your mind about the design part way through. Trim the wire and make loops on either end. Add jump rings and the ear wires and you're done!
Crochet, Trim and Fabric Wrapped Hoop Earrings
Image by Jessica Fediw |
If you can crochet, this Crochet Hoop Earring tutorial by Art of Crochet by Teresa is really pretty. There is also an accompanying video.
Image by Art of Crochet |
More on Hoops
- How to Make Hoop Earrings Tutorial Links
- How to Make Super Sized Hoop Earrings
- How to Make Teardrop Jewelry Tutorials
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Those are neat. I like making them with little beads, but I have never done the tubing, I like that. I may have to give that tubing a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pearl for a very cool tutorial!!I love the idea of taking something that you already have and giving it a facelift!! Great ideas.
ReplyDeleteCarol
These are fun!!
ReplyDeleteClever ! Like a lot of people,I've used beads to give simple hoops some jazz. The use of tubing or crochet add a different look and dimension to hoops and can imagine they would still be very lightweight.
ReplyDeleteWow - great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for the tubing and I'm wondering what size would be the best to use with the memory wire. Do you have a source that you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteI got mine as a set of different colors from Fire Mountain Gems :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202901BS
The dimensions are given there if you wish to look for another source.