DIY Spider Web Earrings - Halloween Jewelry Project

These DIY spider web earrings are a great way to be festive for Halloween without spending a lot of time or money - perfect for the last-minute minimalist :)

I'll show you how to make these earrings from scratch, using only a few tools and materials.

We'll get started by forming the base 'wheel', and then weaving wire around the spokes to form a web. We'll finish up by making a loop, tucking the ends of the remaining spokes under, and attaching the ear wire.

Watch the video below for the complete step-by-step experience in learning how to make these wire spider web earrings!

Step 1: VIDEO + Tools and Materials

Find this video on YouTube >> DIY Spider Web Earrings <<

• 22 gauge (.6 mm) German style wire

• 26 gauge (.4 mm) German style wire

• nylon jaw chain nose pliers

• chain nose pliers

• round nose pliers

• flush cutters

• ruler

• 1 pair of ready made ear wires

NOTES:

For the base spokes of your spider web earrings, you'll want to use a strong, sturdy wire. I recommend half hard jewelry wire, as opposed to artistic wire or craft wire, which is too soft for this.

The wire I recommend for beginners is German style wire, but you can also use sterling silver, copper, or brass as long as it's half hard in temper.

Softer wire like artistic wire (craft wire) is ok to use for the 26 gauge wrapping wire - in fact it will be easier to handle - but half hard is fine too at this small gauge (I'm using German style wire for this too).

For more info about wire hardness, wire gauge, etc. read my series of articles about jewelry wire.

Step 2: Prepare the Base Spokes for Your Spider Web

2a) Use your nylon jaw chain nose pliers to straighten out the wire and remove any kinks.

NOTE: You can also pull the wire through a polishing cloth or an old t-shirt to straighten it out, but for kinks the nylon jaw pliers are really the best tool for the job!

2b) Flush cut the end of the wire (using the back of your flush cutters), measure and cut 6 pieces of wire (3 for each spider web) that are all the same length. Your second cut should also be a flush cut.

NOTE: I cut my wire at 1.5 inches but you can go longer or shorter depending on how large you want your earrings to be. The finished size will be slightly smaller than this because we will be rolling the ends of the wire over in a later step.

Step 3: Creating a Frame for the Spider Web

3a) Cut 4 inches of 26 gauge wire and wrap it around 2 of the wires you cut in step one.

Wrap around the middle of both wires, 2 or 3 times to bundle them together.

3b) Gently spread the two pieces of wire into an 'X' shape, then wrap the long tail of the 26 gauge wire around the middle of the X a couple of times to secure those pieces in place.

3c) Place the third piece of base wire across the X and center it so you have a 'wheel' with evenly spaced spokes.

Use the 26 gauge wire to wrap around all three of the base wires in the center.

Wrap once around each set of spokes, turning the piece as you go.

Continue until you have all the pieces secured in place so they won't move around too much.

Pull the end of the wire tight using your chain nose pliers, and trim off the excess using your flush cutters.

Tuck any ends down with the chain nose pliers. Do this again with the other end of the 26 gauge wire.

Step 4: Weaving the Spider Web

4a) With the 26 gauge wire still attached to the spool, wrap the end around one of the spokes of the spider web, leaving a 1 inch tail.

4b) Wrap around a couple of times, and then use the tail to wrap around the next spoke over once so that the wire won't slide up and down the spoke.

Push your wraps toward the center of the web, then trim off the short tail of wire and tuck the ends down.

4c) Grab the long piece of wire between your thumb and forefinger and bring it over the front of the next spoke.

I'm working around the web clockwise but just continue in the direction you've already been working so far.

Twist the wheel around one full time, using your non-wrapping hand as you hold the wire still. This is the easiest way to wrap the wire around the next spoke.

Continue to the next spoke over in the same manner. Go around the web, wrapping the wire around each spoke once before moving on to the next.

4d) Repeat repeat repeat repeat REPEAT, pushing the wire in toward the center of the web as necessary as you go along.

Stop when you have about 1/4 inch (~ 5mm) of the spokes left.

Make sure the final wrap of the 26 gauge wire is wrapped tightly, then trim it and tuck the ends in.

Step 5: Finishing the Web

5a) Create a loop in the end of one of the wire spokes, using your round nose pliers. This loop should go side-to-side so that the hole faces to the front of the spider web.

5b) Use the round nose pliers to turn the ends of all the other spokes gently toward the back of the spider web. This will prevent the wrapped wire from slipping off, and it will also make sure there are no scratchy ends sticking out.

5c) Attach an ear wire to the top loop, make a second earring to match, and ENJOY your fabulously spooktacular spider web earrings.

Visit my blog for more fun, free jewelry tutorials and videos like this!