I have been trying to make my own rca jack cable (left and right audio for both ends) for my tv to the receiver.

I have bought two pairs of phono plugs from Radioshck to go with the 16 gauge speaker wires I have. They don't work and I suspected that it might not be the correct type of phono plug as it looked to be for a different type of cable.

I will be trying to return that plugs but problem is I don't know what I should be looking for because none of the websites on audio parts I've visited elaborated on any differences that I should understand between different phono plugs and the cables that go with it.

Would really appreciate any guidance on this! Thanks~!

each RCA plug needs 2 wires...

Inane,
okay, pardon my ignorance, but does it mean i'm using the wrong wires, or the wrong type of RCA plug?
What I did was to connect each split of the speaker wire to a phono plug.

You don't have the correct cables. This link has some pictures and instructions showing the process.

The question is, are you making speaker cables, or are you making interconnects to run between your receiver and other pieces of equipemnt such as a DVD player? Interconnects use the type of wire shown in the article Ringmir provided, and RCA plugs (as shown). Speaker wire is very different and uses banana plugs, etc (NOT RCA connectors).

Roti, if I follow, you're just trying to make a stereo audio cable to connect your TV to your receiver so that the TV sound plays through your setup. Although it would be technically possible, you don't use speaker wire for that, but instead coaxial-type cable to connect to the RCA plugs. So, if you want to do it, you can buy some coaxial cable at RadioShack, Home Depot, etc., but these stereo audio connectors are available ready-made at so little expense that you should get one and not go to the bother with the RCAs you bought.