#1 Making Loops on "Eye Posts" (with video!)

I've been working on this necklace for the past couple days, and now that it's finished I figured I'd post it and teach you how to make the loops to make one of these for yourself.

This necklace is just regular silver chain that is covered with beads that hang off of it. In order to make a bead hang, you'll need some "eye posts" (little metal rod/post things) that have a flat-bottom (to keep the bead from sliding off the end) and on the other end you'll need to make a loop.

There are two ways to make a loop on the wire, and both are represented in the two videos below (mind the volume, while I do not narrate, the microphone picks up the music from my husband's video game in the background very strongly).

For what I'll call "Loop #1" you put the bead on the post. Bend the top of the post above the bead to create a 90 degree angle. Grip the top portion of the post right above the bead with the rounding shears and bend the remaining wire around the shears. Clip the excess post and finish bending the wire with the rounding shears to get the best looking loop possible.

 Loop #1

For "Loop #2" you follow the first couple steps of the first loop: Put the bead on the post. Bend the top of the post above the bead to create a 90 degree angle. But then, you clip the excess portion of the top of the post. Grip the shears to the very end of the remaining post and loop the shears while pulling the wire to bend it into a circle (instead of bending the wire around the shears like loop 1).

 Loop #2

Loop #1 is probably the safest for a beginner because you don't have to worry about trimming the wire too close and not having enough wire to make a loop. Loop #2 actually produces a rounder, prettier loop though; if you're bold enough to do it.

Well, if you repeat that step only another 150 times (haha, my fingers hurt) with various beads (I used a lot of crystals) and fix each bead on the chain, you'll end up with this (with an added pendant of course).

The funny thing is, what I said about my fall necklaces being Christmas presents applies to this necklace as well. The person I made it for (and my family) will know who it's for as soon as they see it. And if she sees it, then she sees it, but don't tell her it's here just in case!

I also made a pair of matching earrings (sorry about the photo, it's flash bloated). I used three segments of the chain and fixed it to a pre-made earring hook (you can buy a pack of earring hooks at any craft store) and added some beads and a large jump ring loop with a silver bead on it (there are a few of those on the necklace as well).

I think I shall call this necklace... Bejeweled. Haha.