Skeleton Hand Beaded Earrings

Skeleton Hand Beaded Earrings

These earrings are crafted from white seed beads, intricately assembled to resemble delicate skeleton hands. The beadwork mimics the bones of the fingers and palm, giving a spooky yet stylish look. The hands dangle from simple silver ear hooks, adding a subtle shine to the overall design. Their lightweight and playful nature make these earrings perfect for someone who enjoys quirky or Halloween-themed accessories. The skeletal structure is beautifully detailed, showcasing a unique, handcrafted touch that stands out with its artistic beadwork.

Drop Length approx. 1”

Materials Needed:

• John James Needle Size 12 (1)
• Miyuki 3mm Bugle Beads -- 420 White Pearl (18 per hand - 36 total)
• Size 15 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 420 White Pearl (13 per hand - 26 total
• Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 201 White Pearl (10 per hand - 20 total)
• Sterling Silver Ball End Earring Wires - 2 Pairs (1 Pair)
• Sterling Silver 3mm Round 22 Gauge OPEN Jump Rings - 10 Pieces (2)
• Fireline® - Crystal - 50 Yards - 6lb (3 ft per hand - 6 ft total)

Tools Required:

Needle Nose Pliers (also known as chain nose)

Flat Nose Pliers

Thread Snips or scissors

Bead Mat

GS-Hypo Cement

Instructions on Construction:

1. Thread fireline through needle and string on 4 bugle beads, bring beads down to the end of the fireline - leave about 2-3 inches of a tail

2. Thread the needle up the first 2 bugle beads, pull fireline tight so the beads are parallel

3. Add 2 more bugle beads onto your needle and thread it up through the two bugle beads on the right

4. Thread the needle back down to secure, the 6 bugle beads should line up in a row

5. Thread the needle up through the 2 bugles on the far left, pull tight

6. And then back down on the other end

7. Loop around once more to secure

8. String on 2 delica beads, and thread the needle back up through the first delica bead (we will be doing a version of a brick stitch)

9. And then back down the second delica

10. Then back up the first delica to secure

11. Manipulate the second delica bead over to the bugle bead to the left of the first delica bead, and thread the needle down through the second delica and the two bugle beads

12. Thread the needle back up the bugle beads to the right and up through the first delica

13. Add a delica to your needle and thread it through the delica on the right, pull tight so the delicas sit next to each other

14. Thread the needle back down the delica to secure

15. Thread the needle up through the delica to the left of the one you just attached (do not go through the bugle)

16. Then down through the farthest left delica, pull tight

17. String on a delica bead and then thread the needle down through the previous delica and the two bugle beads

18. Thread the needle up through the bugle beads to the right, pull tight

19. String on a bugle bead and a delica bead

20. Add a delica bead onto your needle and thread the needle up through the first delica bead, pull tight - make sure the delica bead is sitting on the bugle bead

21. Thread the needle down through the second delica bead

22. Add a bugle bead and thread it through the delica bead shown

23. Thread the needle up through the delica bead to the left and up through the bugle and other delica bead

24. Add a delica bead to the needle then thread the needle up through the delica bead you had just previously strung through, pull tight so the delicas are sitting next to each other

25. Thread the needle down through the delica, add a bugle bead and then continue with the needle through the adjacent delica bead at the wrist of the skeleton hand

26. Thread the needle up through the last delica bead on the wrist and then string on a bugle bead and then a delica bead

27. Thread the needle down through the delica to the right

28. Then up through the last delica you added

*** Right now, the hand is not determined if it is a right or left hand, the next images will show how to make a left hand. If you wish to make a right and a left hand, follow the steps below first to make a left hand. When you're ready to create the right hand, stop here.

To create a right hand, instead of making the pinky finger here at step 29, you will want to weave your thread over to the opposite end of the hand so the pinky finger is on the far right of the project, not the left. You can simply weave the thread through your project by following the red line below. 

29. For the left hand, thread on 1 size 15 bead, then a bugle, then a size 15 bead, and then a bugle, and then finally a size 15 bead.

30. Thread the needle back through just the bugle beads and the back of the "palm", skipping the size 15 beads - this will create the illusion of knuckles curled - pull tight!

31. Thread the needle up through the "palm" 

32. String on a 1 size 15 bead, then a bugle, then a size 15 bead, and then a bugle, and then a size 15 bead. Thread the needle back through just the bugle beads and the back of the "palm" then through the left "bone" of the "wrist", skipping the size 15 beads. Pull tight!

33. Thread the needle up through the "wrist bone" to the right and up through the "palm" 

34. String on a 1 size 15 bead, then a bugle, then a size 15 bead, and then a bugle, and then a size 15 bead. Thread the needle back through just the bugle beads ***EXCEPT*** This time you will thread your needle through the last size 15 bead that connects to the "palm." Thread the needle through back of the "palm"

35. Thread the needle up through the delica, bugle and delica shown on the "palm"

36. String on a size 15 bead, a bugle, a size 15 bead, a bugle, then finally a delica bead

37. Thread the needle through all the beads going down, through the palm, except the last delica bead at the tip of the index finger

38. Thread the needle through the two bugle beads of the wrist closest to the index finger

39. And then up through the two bugle beads of the wrist on the "front palm" side

40. String on a delica bead and thread your needle down the delica shown

41. And then up through the delica just added

42. Then back down the delica shown

43. Then right back up to secure

44. String on a bugle bead, a size 15 bead, a bugle bead, then a size 15 bead

45. Thread the needle back through the bugle beads, skipping the size 15 beads, then back down all the bugle and delica beads to reach the bottom of the wrist.

46. With the two tails, tie a surgeon's knot twice, glue with gs-hypo, then carefully cut the ends

47. Attach a jump ring through the hole of the delica bead at the index finger

48. Attach the jump ring onto the ear wire and you're done!