Crystal creations on sterling silver beading wire.

Sterling silver beading wire - and a small mountain of crimp beads - give crystals a delicate framework that, with a few creative twists, can fl atter any face shape. You can adapt your earrings as well. The three dangles together will flatter either round or square faces. For a heartshaped face, skip the longest dangle to widen the jaw line. As usual, for the oval face, all necklace and earring options are suitable.

round face necklace
Determine the finished length of your necklace. (Mine is 36 in./.9m.) Add 10 in. (25cm) and cut a piece of beading wire to that length. Center a drop crystal on the wire. Over both ends, string a crimp bead, a 6mm bicone crystal, and a crimp bead . Crimp the crimp beads (Basics).

On each end, ½ in. (1.3cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a microcrimp bead, three 3mm bicone crystals and a microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads.

On each end, ½ in. (1.3cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a crimp bead, a 6mm bicone, a crimp bead, and a drop. Go back through the crimp beads and the 6mm bicone. Crimp the crimp beads.

On one end, string a crimp bead, a cube crystal, and a crimp bead. String the other end through the beads from the opposite direction. Tighten the wires until they form a triangle. Crimp the crimp beads.

a On each end, ½ in. (1.3cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a microcrimp, three 3mm bicones, and a microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads.
b On each end, 1 in. (2.5cm) from the last microcrimp bead strung, string a microcrimp bead, a 6mm bicone, and a microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads.
c Repeat steps 5a and 5b until the necklace is within 2 in. (5cm) of the desired length.

On one end, string: microcrimp bead, 6mm bicone, crimp bead, 6mm bicone, lobster claw clasp. Go back through the last beads strung and tighten the wire. Repeat on the other end, substituting a soldered jump ring for the clasp. Crimp the crimp beads and trim the excess wire.

heart-shaped face necklace
a Determine the finished length of your necklace. (Mine is 25 in./64cm.) Add 8 in. (20cm) and cut a piece of beading wire to that length. Center a heart-shaped crystal on the wire. Over both ends, string a cube crystal and a crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead (Basics).
b On each end, 5 in. (13cm) from the crimp bead last strung, string a crimp bead, a cube, and a heart. Go back through the cube and the crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead (Basics).

On each end, 2¼ in. (5.7cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a microcrimp bead, a cube, a 3mm bicone crystal, a cube, and a microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads. Repeat until the necklace is within 2 in. (5cm) of the desired length.
Finish the necklace as in step 6 of the round-face necklace, substituting cubes for the bicones.

square face necklace
Determine the finished length of your necklace. (Mine is 33 in./ 84cm.) Add 10 in. (25cm) and cut a piece of beading wire to that length. On the wire, center: microcrimp bead, bicone crystal, cube crystal, bicone, microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads (Basics, p.xxx).

On one end, string: crimp bead, bicone, cube, bicone, crimp. String the other end through the beads from the opposite direction. Tighten the wires until they form a circle approximately 2 in. (5cm) in diameter. Crimp the crimp beads.

On each end, 2¼ in. (5.7cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a microcrimp bead, a cube, a bicone, a cube, and a microcrimp bead. Crimp the microcrimp beads. Repeat until the necklace is within 4 in. (10cm) of the desired length. Finish the necklace as in step 6 of the round-face necklace, substituting cubes for bicones.

oval face necklace
Determine the finished length of your necklace. (Mine is 19 in./48cm.) Add 6 in. (15cm) and cut two pieces of beading wire to that length. On one wire, center a heart-shaped crystal. Over both ends, string a bicone crystal and a crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead Basics).

a String a cube crystal on each end of the wire.
b String the second wire through the two cubes just strung. On each end, string a crimp bead over both wires. Crimp the crimp beads.

a On each end, 1 in. (2.5cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a crimp bead, three bicones, and a crimp bead. Crimp the crimp beads.
b On each end, 1 in. (2.5cm) from the last crimp bead strung, string a crimp bead, a cube, and a crimp bead. Crimp the crimp beads.
c Repeat steps 3a and 3b until the necklace is within 8 in. (20cm) of the desired length.

Finish the necklace as in step 6 of the round-face necklace, substituting a crimp bead, two 6mm spacers and a crimp bead for the 6mm bicone pattern.

earrings
a String three 3mm bicone crystals on a 2-in. (5cm) head pin. Make a wrapped loop (Basics) ½ in. (1.3cm) above the top bead.
b String a 3mm bicone and a cube crystal on a 3-in. (7.6cm) head pin. Make a wrapped loop 1½ in. (3.8cm) above the top bead.
c String a 3mm bicone and a 6mm bicone on a 2-in. (5cm) head pin. Make a wrapped loop ¾ in. (1.9cm) above the top bead.

Open the loop on an earring wire. Attach the dangles. Close the loop. Make a second earring to match the first.