Make a Pair of Easy, Glamorous and Romantic Queen of Hearts Earrings for Valentine's Day!

I've always hated "beginner projects" that look like beginner projects. When I learned the basics of knitting many years ago, there was no way I was going to make a 6-foot, solid color stockinette or garter stitch knitted scarf as my first project. I'd have been bored to death within the first 20 minutes! Nor was my first metal clay project a simple, stamped charm. The same principle applies to learning any new skill: you have to make the experience engaging! So when I was a French language drill instructor for fellow students preparing for their junior year abroad in France, I didn't just drill them on conjugating verbs they had memorized; I created crossword puzzles for them in French. My students did great on their tests because they were learning by doing something interesting.

I'm a firm believer that every piece of jewelry you make - even your very first "beginner project" - should be something that you'll be proud to wear or give as a gift. You can learn and use basic jewelry making techniques just as easily by making a beautiful design as a boring one! And if you're anything like me, you'll be more motivated to continue learning, experimenting with new techniques and honing your skills if you only make projects that really appeal to you aesthetically and emotionally.

As the new Bangles, Baubles and Beads contributor on Squidoo I'll be creating a wide range of jewelry making tutorials, projects, tips, techniques and product reviews, and one of my goals is to build a library of jewelry project tutorials that feature sophisticated designs that also are easy to make, with detailed step-by-step instructions, lots of close-up process photos, and professional jewelry making tips so that even beginner jewelry makers can have successful results.

Here's my first such jewelry project tutorial, just in time for you to make and wear or give as a gift on Valentine's Day:

Romantic Queen of Hearts Earrings Project

Happy beading!