This Saturday is the Chinese New Year, which means there will be celebrations not just in China but around the globe, full of lights and sounds like bell ringing, lighting firecrackers, and watching traditional lion dances. 2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster, in case you were wondering! Whether you and your family like to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a big way or not at all, here is a quick little jewelry project you can whip up and wear for the occasion…because who doesn’t love more jewelry, right?

Chinese Calligraphy Dangle Earrings

Supplies:

Beads with Chinese Calligraphy {2}
Head Pins {2}
Blue Seed Beads {2}
French Ear Wires {2}
Wire Cutters
Jewelry Pliers

My beads came from Blueberry Cove Beads as part of an Oriental box last July. You can find similar beads on Etsy and Amazon that contain various Chinese characters and designs.

Assembling Your Earrings

Step 1: Place a seed bead on your head pin, followed by a character bead.

Step 2: Create a wire loop.
If you’ve never done it before, this is the trickiest part. You’ll bend the leftover wire at a 90 degree angle just above your bead, then use your pliers to wrap it back around to form a loop shape. Cut off the extra wire and you’ll have something that looks like the photo below. For full photo instructions, check out this beginner beading post.

Step 3: Gently twist open the loop at the base of your ear wire.
Just as you would with a jump ring, make sure to carefully twist the cut end of the wire toward yourself rather than pulling it away from the rest of the wire. This will help it keep its rounded shape.