If you enjoy making your own jewelry, and want to dress festive this holiday season, candy cane earrings will add that extra flair to your Christmas outfit. Candy cane earrings are easy to make, and offer you the chance to get creative. Whether you use beads to design your earrings, or opt for sequins and multi-colored pipe cleaners, this is your chance to tap into those creative powers.

Candy canes are a popular Christmas decoration for centuries, first used to decorate Christmas trees in the seventeenth century. Originally straight, red and white candy sticks, legend says they were molded into their current shape in 1670 to represent a shepherd's staff.http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/candy_canes.htm Today, candy canes continue to be popular Christmas decorations and treats. If you are interested in turning these festive sweets into the perfect pair of earrings, this guide will tell you how to make candy cane earrings.

1. Red and white beads, any size, shape or type. Round wooden or crystal beads are ideal, but you can also use round glass beads or glittery red and white ceramic beads. As long as the beads are red and white, you can get creative here! As for size, choose the size that fits your style the best.
2. 24 gauge wire
3. Jewelry cutters
4. Wire cutters
5. 4 seed beads, preferably clear color
6. 4 small jump rings. These will be used to dangle the fish hook earrings from

1. 2 sterling silver fish hook earrings

1. Using the wire cutters, cut about two inches of wire for each earring. You can cut them smaller or larger according to preference, as these will be what you use to shape the earrings into an actual candy cane.
2. Bend each wire into the shape of a candy cane. If you think yours looks too short or long, you can start over to reach the desired look.
3. Use the jewelry pliers to make a tiny loop shape at the hook end of the wire.
4. Thread the first seed bead on the wire until it reaches the loop you made.
5. Begin threading the beads, alternating between red and white.
6. After you have threaded on three beads, thread the first jump ring on. This will be where you attach the actual earring.
7. Continue threading the remaining beads until you feel the candy cane is the desired length, then add another seed bead.
8. Using the jewelry pliers again, make another loop.
9. Add another jump ring to the jump ring you already threaded at the top of the candy cane. Do this by using the pliers to open the ring and thread it through the other. Tighten.
10. Add the earring to the second jump ring, threading it on and tightening it with the pliers, if necessary.

1. Add green beads, if desired, to make multi-colored candy canes.
2. Substitute sequins for beads. You can use green and white, or add green, silver or gold.
3. Use pipe cleaners instead of wires for the earring base.