Beaded Toilet Paper Roll Earrings

You'll want to follow these instructions to make these fun beaded toilet paper roll earrings!  Although, I have to admit - toilet paper roll earrings reflect everything that is currently wrong in the world. A virus pandemic and a toilet paper shortage.

I thought they were silly when I first saw them, but the little rolls of beaded toilet paper were fun to make and they are almost as in demand as the real thing. Yes - the people who have to work in public at this time appreciate adding a little levity to the situation - so consider making a pair for your favorite grocery clerk.

Here's how I made my pair of beaded toilet paper rolls.

The materials I used are opaque white Miyuki size 11 round seed beads, 8 lb Crystal color FireLine beading thread, and a Tulip beading needle for the bead work section.

The center core of the toilet paper roll is a wire spring coil that I made using 20 gauge brown Artistic craft wire. Aleene's Jewelry Metal Glue is holding it all together.

I used two-drop even count peyote stitch to make the beaded toilet paper strip. I tried regular even count peyote first but it was taking soooooo long. I really wanted this to be a quick and fun project - so two drop peyote really speeds up the process.  If you're not familiar with 2-drop peyote, there's instructions as part of this heart beaded ring tutorial. 

The bead strip is 8 beads wide, which is four 2-drop peyote stitches. When the number of stitches across is even - you are doing even count peyote which has a simple turn at the end of each row.  If you want your project to be quicker - choose even count peyote! For this project, counting the rows down the long edge, there are 32 rows.

The toilet paper center is a wire coil. I decided to dust off a tool I've almost never used to make the coil.  It's a Beadalon Round Jump Ring Maker, but let's be honest - it doesn't make jump rings. It makes coils that you can cut into jump rings. Or coils that you can use as a center for a beaded toilet paper roll. Of course, you can use any suitable item as a mandrel for the coil.

The jump ring maker is an interesting little tool. I used the smallest mandrel to make the wire coil. You attach the mandrel by screwing it into the small nut on the plastic base.

Get your wire and cut a piece at least 12 inches long. Brown Artistic wire turned out to be the perfect color for this.

Insert the end of the wire into the hole on the base of the tool. Bend it over to hold it in place.

Wrap the wire over the mandrel. I think it works better if you keep the wire close to the plastic base.

Holding the wire pressed against the mandrel with one hand, put your finger in the hole on the plastic base and turn away from you.  Just keep pressing the wire and letting it wrap around the mandrel.

Once the coil is large enough, or you wrapped the entire piece of wire, remove the wire from the hole to slide the coil off the mandrel.  I had trouble getting the coils tight - but it isn't important for this project.

Trim the coil to be the same size as the edge of the beaded strip.  To attach the bead work to the coil, first I glued the beading to a strip of copy paper the same width. It is easier to wrap the paper around the coil than it is to wrap the beads - at least to get things started.  Once the paper is attached, use the glue to attach the paper to the wire coil.  Make sure you line it up so it will roll evenly!

As you are rolling the bead work onto the wire coil, apply glue to keep it in place. I left a bit of a tail to dangle down - but it is totally up to you. I also like the paper hanging over the roll, never under - but just like in your house - it's your option.

The final step is to make a toilet paper holder or hanger.  I used more 20 gauge Artistic wire - this time in silver. I started with about 6-8 inches and wrapped a simple dangling loop.

Repeat for the second beaded toilet paper roll, making them match as much as possible.

Add ear wires and there you have them - a spare roll anytime you need one.

I hope you enjoy the project and are keeping safe at home with your jewelry making projects and beading or whatever else makes you happy.  I have been keeping busy and hope to share more projects as well as organize my projects while I have the extra time at home. I started with an index of wire information, techniques and projects. It is a work in process.

If you want to know when I post new projects, please see my Sign Up page for social media accounts.