Swarovski crystals are so beautiful they don’t need complicated settings to make them look good. If you are a fan but find jewellery a strain on the old purse strings why not have a go at making them yourself? The crystals are available at most online bead suppliers and on ebay. Just follow these few easy steps.

Materials: Two x silver plated earwires, 4 x silver plated jump rings, 2 x Swarovski crystals

Step 1: Using long nose pliers hold a jump ring still with one set of pliers then gently pull the ring towards you with the others so that the gap is wide enough to thread through the hole in your crystal.

Step 2: Thread through your crystal but before you close the jump ring insert another closed jump ring so you now have 2 jump rings attached. Close the first jump ring.

 Step 3: With your long nosed pliers gently open the loop on your earwire and thread the top jump ring onto it.

Step4: Close the loop again with your pliers making sure there’s no gap (you don’t want to lose your crystal after all your hard work) Repeat for the other earring.

Have you ever seen a pair of earrings you really like but would love them in a different colour? It’s so frustrating. If you learn the basics of making simple styles you can re-style a pair of your own earrings or make some the colour you want from scratch. This is how I made these pretty but simple blue and silver earrings.

Materials

2 x beads in your favourite color, 2 x silver headpins,  4 x small silver beads,  2 x silver tube spacers,  2 x silver earring wires, pair of round nosed pliers.

Thread 1 silver bead onto the headpin, followed by your bead of choice, then add the other silver bead.

Thread the siver tube spacer bead onto the wire. Take the end of the wire with your pliers and bend it over a t a 90 degree angle.

Use your pliers to bend the wire back into a loop. The end should fit neatly into the head of the tube.

With your pliers undo the loop on the end of the earwire then hook your handmade loop over the end. Close the earrwire hoop tightly to secure the earring.

And there you have it, your own pair of designer earrings in your favourite colour.