How to Make Book Earrings

Co-authored by Cory Schifter

Last Updated: November 22, 2024

Book earrings make a great gift for anyone who loves to read, including yourself. You can make your own in a matter of hours and express your status as a bookworm or your belief in literacy. Use this step-by-step guide to get started, and click on any photo to enlarge.

Steps

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1
Cut two rectangles out of cardboard, each 1 inch (2.5cm) tall by 1.75 inches (4.5cm). Use a ruler or paper cutter to get the edges square and straight. This will provide the structure for the cover of your book.
2
Locate the center of each rectangle and mark it from top to bottom with a pencil. Hold a ruler on the second line, and make ticks 1/16th" (1.5mm) away on each side. Score the lines on either side of the center from top to bottom, using an empty ball point pen or a bone folder.

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3
Fold the cardboard along the scored lines to form the covers for your tiny book. Don't fold along the center line.
4
Cut out your pages. Cut sixteen rectangles of ordinary printer paper, measuring 7/8" (22mm) long by 1.5" (3.8cm) wide. If you have access to a paper cutter it will help make the pages even, as will stacking or folding the paper before cutting. (Don't stack too thickly, though, or you'll have trouble cutting. Two stacks of eight layers each seem to cut reasonably easily, and it doesn't matter if the pages for one book are slightly different from the other.)
5
Fold each stack of eight sheets in half down the middle. Trim the outside edges so that they're once again even. These will form the pages of the books.
6
Punch out holes for binding. Line up the centers of the pages with the centers of the cover cardboard. Lay the book open flat with the cover side down on a cutting mat or a spare chunk of scrap cardboard. Use a push pin to poke three holes in the spine, through the center of the pages. Do this for both books.
7
Thread a needle and tie a knot with some white thread or thin string.
8
Stitch down through the top hole.
9
Stitch up through the middle hole.
10
Stitch down through the bottom hole.
11
Do a second stitching pattern. Bring the needle back up through the middle hole, down through the top hole, etc. If you're using thin thread, you may want to do this figure-8 pattern a couple more times before tying it off. Loop the thread through itself on the back side a few times to tie off the stitches, then trim the excess thread.
12
Cut out your cover. Cut two rectangles of the decorative fabric or paper, 3.25" (8.25cm) wide by 2" (5cm) long. If there is a pattern or grain to the fabric or paper, check to make sure that your rectangles run parallel to it. These will become the covers of your books.
13
Center one book on the decorative sheet with the pages wide open. Keep each decorative cover together with the book you used to measure it, in case they are slightly different sizes.
Cut at a shallow angle from the corners of the score marks to the edge. The exact angle is not important, but try to get it reasonably symmetrical.
The photo shows the cover ready to glue.
17
Apply a generous (but not sloppy) amount of glue to the center of the decorative material and to the top and bottom flaps. Make sure to put the glue on the "back" or "wrong" side of the material, and make sure to apply glue on the entire area, all the way to the edges.
- It helps to put a piece of scrap paper behind as you apply the glue, to catch any that runs over the edges.
- A glue stick is a bit neater than liquid glue, but either will work.
Place the book onto the decorative material and press it firmly against the back, making sure the edges line up with the score marks. Fold the top flaps over and press them firmly. Repeat for the bottom flaps.
Press firmly.
20
Thread a string between the top portion of binding and the cardboard you used as the basis for your cover.
- Alternatively, you could glue the string, but be sure it is secure.
Pull it close to the book, then tighten it firmly.
Use needle-nose pliers or jewelry pliers without teeth. Insert the earring mounts so that the books will both point forward when the earrings are worn.
Rest a heavy book on top of them to hold them closed while the glue dries.

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Question

How can I add a closure to the book?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

A tiny amount of clear tape could be used to keep the book closed. You could make earrings that look like closed books instead of following these instructions. A thin ribbon could be tied around the book and glued in place.

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Question

I suck at sewing, so what can I do instead of sewing the binding and hook base?

Community Answer

You could instead glue, staple or safety pin them.

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Question

Can I make these tiny books into Christmas ornaments?

Community Answer

Yes, that would be a wonderful idea. You can use ornament hangers instead of earring hooks.

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Tips

Another nice gift is to make a necklace to match the earrings.

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You could instead buy tiny books that are for doll-houses to make into earrings if you do not wish to make your own little book.

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You can scale this design up about 10 times to create a somewhat regular-sized book that you can write in easily.

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Warnings

To put holes in the pages and the back, place it against an object that can support it but take a tiny hole. A scrap of cardboard or an old magazine are both good choices. Don't hold the project in your fingers to poke holes. You can also place a blob of sticky-tack or blue tack on the table to pierce into, to avoid pushing the needle through fingers or scratching the table. Put holes in the pages and the cover separately if you need to.

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Make sure your fingers aren't behind the needle as you stitch the binding.

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If you're making these as a gift, make sure to check whether your recipient has pierced ears.

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Since these earrings are made mostly out of paper, avoid getting them wet.

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Use scissors, X-acto knives, and paper cutters safely. Cover your X-acto knife when not in use, and never cut towards yourself.

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Things You'll Need

A piece of stiff (but not corrugated) cardboard, such as a cereal box, the back of a notebook, or a piece of cardstock from junk mail printed on heavy paper. A stiff index card or old business card could also work.
A sheet of plain, white printer paper
A piece of decorative paper or thin fabric
- Try the scrapbook section of a craft store for wonderful decorative papers. Gift wrap and origami paper are also good possibilities.
A piece of thin string or cord to match your decorative paper or fabric.
Earring mounts, your choice
A glue stick or glue
Scissors
Paper cutter (optional)
X-acto knife (optional)
Needle and thread
Thimble (optional)
Push pin/thumbtack (optional)
Scoring implement (stylus, ball point pen with no ink, bone folder for bookmaking)
Needle-nose pliers or jewelry pliers without teeth
A cutting mat or other object to cut against. Cardboard and old magazines both work well.