I have to admit, I’ve never been crazy about designing beaded earrings, and I don’t know why. So after I challenged myself to design 31 pairs of earrings in 31 days, I started to realize that earrings are just as much fun to design and make as other types of beaded jewelry. It was a lot easier to make 31 pairs of earrings than I thought it would be, and it was a great way to use some beading stitches that I hadn't thought of in a long time. Check out my top 5 reasons to love beaded earrings, and then submit your own reasons at the end!
1. Less Time to Make
Beaded earrings take less time (usually) than other types of beaded jewelry. You can whip up a pair of truly fabulous earrings in about the time it takes to watch your favorite movie. Earrings aren’t a big investment in time, unless you want them to be. They're as close to instant gratification as you can get when it comes to beadwork.
2. Not a Lot of Beads
You usually don't need a lot of materials and beads to make beaded earrings. It usually only takes a few grams of seed beads, one or two larger focal beads, and just a few crystals to make a pair of earrings. This also means that beaded earrings can be easier on your beading budget than making a bigger piece of beaded jewelry.
3. Wear for Any Occasion
Beaded earrings are great for just about any occasion. You can design and make beaded earrings to go with pretty much anything you have in your closet. Wear them to the office or to a ball game – most earrings can be dressed up or dressed down pretty easily! If you have a shirt or dress with a neckline that makes it hard to wear a necklace, why not make a pair of beaded earrings with a bracelet to match? It's a trend that has been seen on more than one Hollywood red carpet.
4. Learn Something New
Beaded earrings are a great way to try out new stitches, a little bit at a time. Making a pair of earrings with a new stitch or technique lets you learn the basics without investing a lot of time. Beaded earrings are also a great way to refresh your memory when it comes to beading stitches that you haven't used in a while. You can also develop new techniques with beaded earrings that you might not have thought of if you were using the same baeding stitch for a necklace or bracelet. Beaded earrings let you play with shape and color, too!
5. Quick and Easy Gifts
Beaded earrings make great gifts. If you don’t want to keep them for yourself, give them away! Making a pair of beaded earrings for a friend is a great way to brighten up their day. Beaded earrings are also a great project for making during a beading party or other crafty get-together - they don't take a lot of time or a lot of materials, and everyone gets to wear their creations home.