How to Make DIY Hoop Earrings With Ombré Tassels

Once upon a time, ombré stole the spotlight as the design world’s new trend. These days, it has earned the special place as a standard pattern that is here to stay. I personally love how easy it is to personalize and change just by using different color palettes. And now that it’s officially autumn, I decided to give the ombré look some love with maroon and purple hues. What better way than to experiment with ombré and tassels than to create these DIY hoop earrings made with Darice’s cloth-covered wire? I’m obsessed with it! Here’s how to make a pair.

Ombré TASSEL DIY HOOP EARRINGS SUPPLIES:

• Darice Cloth Covered Wire.
• Darice 24 Gauge Copper Ming Wire.
• Darice Silver Plated Hoop Earrings.
• Darice Nylon Brush.
• Darice Scissors.
• Darice 3 in 1 Pliers with Cutter.
• Acrylic Paint (two colors).
• Water.
• Clear Nail Polish (optional).

Step 1. Cut a 12 inch strand of cloth covered wire.

Step 2. With the exception of your thumb, place your fingers together. Wrap the wire around your fingers three times.

Step 3. Remove the wire from your fingers and slip onto one hoop earring.

Step 4. Hold an 8 inch strand of 24 gauge copper wire under the cloth-covered wire, right below the hoop. You’ll want to hold the cloth covered wire about 1 inch from the end of the copper wire.

Step 5. Wrap the copper wire tightly around the cloth covered wire.

This part may take some practice. Don’t worry, though! You can always undo the copper wire and try again with a new strand. The key is to wrap slowly so you have more control.

Step 6. After you have wrapped the copper wire around the cloth covered wire four times, cut away the excess with scissors.

Step 7. Using the flattening portion of the pliers, clamp down on the copper wire. This will flatten the pointed ends of the copper wire. It will also prevent the copper wire from sliding off of the tassel.

Step 8. Repeat Steps 1-7 four more times. Each of the DIY hoop earrings should have a total of five tassels.

Step 9. Trim the tassels.

Step 10. For the ombré effect on your DIY hoop earrings, add the first wash of color directly to the tassels. Go a little heavy on the water; this will dilute the acrylic paint and create a watercolor look.

The color will naturally travel through the cloth-covered wire. Start off with a small amount of paint and gradually add more.

Step 11. Add the second wash of color, focusing on the bottom of the tassels. Again, use more water than you typically would with acrylic paint. This will help the colors blend together and create a gradient.

Step 12. If needed, cut away any unraveling threads from the bottom of the tassels.

Optional: Dab a few dots of clear nail polish to prevent future unraveling and to keep your DIY hoop earrings looking neat and tidy!

Step 13. Repeat Steps 1-12 to create the second of your DIY hoop earrings. Once the paint and clear nail polish dries, your new baubles are ready to rock.

Feeling inspired to create another pair of DIY hoop earrings? Give these DIY fringe hoop earrings a try!

Tutorial Shots: Kirsten Nunez
Styled Shots: Nick Wolf

About Kirsten Nunez

Kirsten is a lifestyle writer and craft book author focusing on DIY, food, health, and creativity. Since 2010, she has been sharing DIY projects at WildAmor.com (formerly Studs & Pearls). In May 2014, Kirsten published her first book, Studs & Pearls: 30 Creative Projects for Customized Fashion; you can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon & select independent bookstores. She spends most of her time writing, crafting, traveling, and dreaming up new recipe ideas. Kirsten is a born and raised New Yorker currently living in the Bay Area of California.

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