Russian Leaf Earrings - Turquoise & Black

RUSSIAN LEAF EARRINGS

• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• 11/0 Delica beads "Nickel Plated" (DB21)
• 11/0 Delica beads "Opaque Black" (DB10)
• 11/0 Delica beads "Matte Opaque Turquoise" (DB759)
• 11/0 Delica beads "Opaque Matte Grey" (DB761)

Back on April 8th, HERE, I blogged about making a pair of fringe earrings to go with this top:

Here is the photo of the sample earring from that post:

I mentioned that I wasn't pleased with how messy the fringe turned out. Rather than attempting to make the same earring using glossy Delicas instead of matte ones, I decided to make a pair of Russian Leaf earrings instead. I used pretty much the same bead colors that I used in the fringe earring sample.

As you would know if you've made earrings of this kind, they come out quite soft and don't keep their shape very well without a lot of reinforcing. I tried something that I hadn't tried before with this pair. I painted the backs of them with clear nail polish. I was surprised at how well that worked. After two coats and several hours drying time, they are very firm. I did have to shape them with my fingers while they were wet. The only thing that I wasn't happy about was the nail polish odor but it did dissipate after a few days.

Click HERE to watch Jill Wiseman's "Russian Leaf Earrings" video tutorial. Delica beads are available at Red Panda, Aura Crystals, Supply Emporium and Baubles & Beads.