How to Make Hoop Earrings

What You Need:

• Pair of hoop earrings 
• Embroidery floss in one color
• Small beads in another 
• Craft or fabric glue
• Scissors
• Scrap paper 
• Cotton swab

What You Do:

1. Before your child can work on the actual earrings, she needs to string the beads on the embroidery floss. Instead of using a needle, squeeze a small amount of the glue on the scrap paper. Dip the thread into the glue and twist the end of the thread, pinching it tight as the glue dries. This pointed tip should be small enough to thread through the beads.
2. Estimate how many beads you need for the earrings. String twice that many onto the thread.
3. Working from one end of the open earring, use the cotton swab to coat a small portion of the earring with glue.   
4. Work quickly before the glue dries. Press the end of the embroidery floss into place and then start wrapping the earring with the thread. Remember to keep the wraps close together for good coverage.  
5. When you reach the part of the earring where you want to start including the beads, hold one bead in place against the earring as you wrap. Wrap the thread around at least twice before you add another bead.  
6. Add glue as needed and continue to wrap until you have covered the entire hoop. Snip off the thread, coat this end with glue and then press it into place until it stays.  
7. Do you have enough beads on the thread to complete the second earring? If not, add beads like you did in Steps 1 and 2. If you have enough, repeat Steps 3 through 6 to complete the second earring.

Your child can make additional earrings, experimenting with different combinations of thread. She can twist two colors together to cover the earrings, do half of the earring in one color and half in another color or something entirely different. This is a great slumber party project as it's affordable, cute, and fun.