Almost Anthro Jewelry

Happy weekend, friends!  Today, I wanted to repost a jewelry tutorial that you might not have seen when I guest posted over at Erin's blog A Girl and Her Craftbox a few weeks ago.  I got a lot of great comments on my first two Anthro knockoffs, so I thought you might enjoy this one too {and might even want to try your own!}:

Knockoff Anthro Jewelry

Here's my inspiration: these New Growth hoops, which retail for $128.

I loved the way the beads went part-way around the circle and down into a cluster. 

Here are the materials you'll need:

10 seed beads in your desired color[s], 5 or more various other colored beads for the cluster,

3 jump rings, Pre-made jewelry hoops, needle-nose pliers and cutters, 26 gauge jewelry wire

STEP 1: Wrap 26 gauge wire securely around hoop several times.  String your first seed bead and wrap twice to secure.

STEP 2: Continue stringing seed beads {you can intersperse other small beads too} and wrapping the wire around the hoop twice after each one.  After the last bead, wrap wire 5 or 6 times and trim.

STEP 3: When seed beads are all wrapped on the hoop, insert the end of the hoop into its loop and use pliers to bend it 90 degrees.

STEP 4: Use pliers to form a wire loop.

STEP 5: Attach 2 jump rings to the wire loop.

STEP 6: Place each bead that you want in the cluster on its own head pin and form a wire loop {bend pin 90 degrees, trim excess, and form loop with pliers}.

STEP 7: Attach 3 beads to the top jump ring, and 2 beads to the lower jump ring to form cluster.

STEP 8: Attach desired hardware to top of hoop.  If you want to make earrings, like the Anthro picture, just attach ear wires.  I decided once I had this made that it was too large for my personal taste in earrings, so I made it into a pendant by attaching a jump ring and chain.  

I used a variety of pale colors in the cluster so that it will match practically any outfit without having a lot of overpowering color itself.  What do you think?  If you make your own version, I'd love to see it! 

As for this Artsy Family, we're wrapping up Carnival week today...we took Little Crafter for the first time on Monday and he had a BALL!   We went again on Wednesday night, and promised him one more trip today before the fun leaves town.  He wanted to {according to him} "ride and ride and ride and ride and ride."  He also found a game he's great at playing...so far he's won 2 ring lollipops, a Nerf football, a light up sword, and a stuffed dolphin, all for 5 bucks.  Not too shabby.  I've been trying to prep him for watching the parade and we just did a pretend parade with his cars and his Little People figurines.  If you look up "excited" in the dictionary, I think this is what you'll see!

Have a great day!