Reindeer Earring Tutorial

We are OBSESSED with these adorable new reindeer antler caps!! We're so in love that we've been making them into everything...earrings, necklaces, charms, bracelet bars...we have reindeer everywhere! This tutorial will show you how to make reindeer earrings, but you can easily turn your reindeer into a necklace by attaching the dangle to a chain, a bracelet bar by using a longer piece of wire and wire wrapping both ends, or whatever else you can dream up. All of these supplies can be found in person at our Bead World stores or on our Reindeer Holiday Edition of our website. We can't wait to see your holiday inspired reindeer creations. 

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You will need:

Ear Wires (2) - We used Gold Plated Ear Wires with Spring and Bead

Reindeer Heads, Center Drilled (2) - We used Faceted Freshwater Pearl Ovals

Reindeer Noses, Center Drilled (2) - We used 4mm Swarovski Crystal Bicones

Antler Caps (2) - We used Vermeille Antler Caps

Head Pins (2) - We used these Gold Plated Headpins

Needle Nose Pliers

Round Nose Pliers

Cutters

Nylon Jaw Pliers (Optional)

Bead Mat

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1. On one of your headpins, string a reindeer nose, a reindeer head, and an antler cap. Make sure the cap portion of the antler is facing down towards the reindeer head.

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2. With your needle nose pliers, grab the head pin directly above the antler cap. Use your finger to bend the headpin away from you at a 90 degree angle.

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3. Place the wire in your round nose pliers, with the pliers facing up and down, right in the corner of the 90 degree angle. Lift the wire over the top jaw of the round nose pliers and bend it toward yourself. Continue until the wire points down.

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4. Switch the pliers so the loop is around the bottom jaw of the pliers and continue making the loop until the wire is facing away from you.

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5. Ideally you want a “bubble wand” shape, with the loop centered over the wire. To center your loop, keep the loop on your round nose pliers and roll your pliers backwards until the loop is centered over the stick part of your "bubble wand".

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6. Hold the loop gently with your needle nose pliers to support the formed loop. Be sure to “cover the loop, the whole loop and nothing but the loop.” Use your round nose pliers to hold on to the end of the wrapping wire.

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7. Begin wrapping your wire around the open section of wire between your loop and the antler cap. I found that I needed to hold my needle nose pliers at more of an angle than I usually do (as shown here) so that the antler cap could pivot around as I wrapped my wire without my pliers getting in the way. 

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8. Continue wrapping the wire around until you have filled the entire open section of wire and reached the top of your antler cap.

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9. Place the flat surface of your flush cutters down towards your wrapped wire and cut off the excess wire.

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10. Use your needle nose pliers to tap the “sticky-outy” end into the wrap.

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11. Grasp the loop of your ear wire near the opening of the loop with your needle nose pliers.

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12. Twist to open the loop (never pull the end out to open a loop - it will distort the shape of the loop).

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13. Slide the loop of your reindeer dangle onto the loop of the ear wire.

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14. Use your needle nose pliers to twist the loop on the ear wire closed.

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15. Repeat these steps to make your other earring and ta-da!! Now you have a chic pair of holiday themed earrings.

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For some fun design twists, try adding jump rings or a small section of chain to make your reindeer dangle longer.

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We do recommend wire wrapping for the most stability, but if you don't feel comfortable wire wrapping you can also do a modified eye pin wrap. Basically, cut the wire at the same height as the first part of the antler and use round nose pliers to roll the wire down into a loop. If you do make an eye pin wrap instead of a full wire wrap, I would suggest using a 20 gauge headpin for extra stability.

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We hope you have a blast making reindeer for everyone on your holiday list!

Happy Beading!!