The first thing to do is to use the headpins to create simple loops for all the “cluster pieces” that you are going to put onto the earring. To do this, put a crystal onto the headpin and using the rosary plier and sharp nosed cutters, create a simple loop. Here is a refresher course on how to create a plain loop in case you need it. The plain loops should be big enough so that they are able to all be included on the jump ring. Also, make sure that the loops are “closed” all the way - that is their ends are nestled pretty close against the crystal. This is because if there is too much space between the wire ends and the crystal, they may slip off the jump ring.
Once you’ve got all the looped crystals made, take your two chain nose pliers and open up the jump ring to allow you to put all the crystals onto it. Remember to open up the jump ring so that it doesn’t deform the general shape of the ring! Having a non-soldered jump ring is nice because you can easily try out different combinations of crystals and stones without committing to a final design. (In this case it doesn’t matter so much since the plain loops themselves can be opened but if you were wirewrapping these instead, it would be more of a committment.) Also, remember not to open and close the jump ring TOO many times otherwise the metal will become stressed and might break.
I’ve also tried putting the cluster of looped crystals directly on the loop of the earring hook itself, completely omitting the jump ring. I found that it works well enough, but putting them on a jump ring sort of lets the crystals swing a little bit easier; it also seems to look a little more natural.
Now after putting on all the looped crystals into the jump ring loop, make sure to remember to put on the earring hook itself. If you forget, since the earring hook loop is the open type you can easily open it, put it onto the jump ring, and shut it. This way you don’t overstress the jump ring by opening and closing it too many times. You should open and close the earring hook loop in the same manner that you open the jump ring.
I’ve used 4 crystals here because any more and the jump ring starts to get a little too “crowded”. I’ve clustered up to 5 items without problems, but any more and you will probably want to move up to a larger jump ring. Also, the wire gauge of your headpins may limit the amount of loops you can cluster onto the jump ring. I used extra thin ones so it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
All that’s left to do after this is to close up the jump ring, making sure that the ends come very close together. It can be a bit difficult to get it closed so you should definitely use the chain nose pliers. What I often do after opening up the jump ring in the beginning is to grasp the jump ring firmly very close to the cut with one of pliers in your right hand. Then using the fingers of your left hand pile on all the loops and the earring hook onto the jump ring. Then pick up the other plier with your left hand, grasp the jump ring on the other side of the cut, and shut it the same way you opened it.
