How to Make Earrings

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Co-authored by Cory Schifter

Last Updated: October 17, 2024 Approved

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Making your own earrings is a fun, artsy project which can be completed in minutes. They make a wonderful homemade gift for your friends and family members - or you can just keep them for yourself! This article will show you some easy methods for making dangly beaded earrings, hoop earrings and studs, along with some unique ideas using household materials. Just see Step 1 below to get started.

Quick Guide to Making Earrings

Gather two headpins and French hook earwires, plus a selection of beads.
Thread some beads onto one of the headpins, then cut the headpin to size with pliers.
Use the pliers to curl the top of the headpin until it forms a complete loop.
Attach the French hook earwire to the headpin loop with your pliers, then tighten the hook.
Repeat this process to create a second earring and complete the set.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making Beaded Earrings

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To make these beaded earrings you will need: two headpins, a round-nosed pliers, two French hook earwires and a selection of beads - they can be pearl, crystal, plastic or glass - it's a matter of personal preference.
How many you fit on each headpin will depend on how large the beads are and how long you want your earrings to be. Experiment with different colors and bead sizes to find a style you like.

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To shorten the length of the earring, use your pliers to cut the end of the headpin. Just make sure to leave a centimeter between the last bead and the end of the wire.
Take your round-nosed pliers and use it to curl the top of the headpin, until it forms a complete loop.
Take one of the French hook earwires and use your pliers to open the hook on the end. Slip the open hook through the loop you made on the end of the headpin.
Close the open hook using your pliers. Make it nice and tight so the earrings won't fall apart.
Enjoy your new earrings!

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Hoop Earrings

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To make hoop earrings you will need a tube of memory wire, a memory wire cutter (pliers will leave dents in the wire), round nose pliers, two French hook earwires and a selection of beads (optional).
This will form the hoop of your earring. If you want a smaller-sized hoop, use the cutter to snip off a section of wire.
Take your round nosed pliers and use it to curl one edge of the wire hoop underneath itself, until it forms a complete loop.
If you want to make beaded hoops, thread the desired number of beads onto the wire - you can experiment with different colors and bead types to find a pattern you like. For plain hoops, just skip to the next step.
Take the pliers and use it to curl the other edge of the wire - except this time you are curling the wire outwards rather than underneath. Curl it until you form an almost complete loop.
Hook the loop that's curled outwards into the loop that's curled underneath. If necessary, use the pliers to tighten each loop. This should keep the earring secured.^{[1]
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Take the French hook earwire and use your pliers to open the loop at the bottom. Hook the open loop of the earwire onto one of the closed loops at the top of the earring hoop. Close the loop with your pliers.
Remember to measure the second hoop against the first to make sure they are the same size.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Studs

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To make stud earrings you will need: two stud-style earring posts and two rubber or butterfly backs. You will also need a hot glue gun or some superglue. The other materials will depend on what kind of earrings you want to make - you can use pearls or beads, pieces of colored fabric or glitter glue.
Use a damp cloth or a q-tip dipped in some rubbing alcohol to clean the earring posts. This removes any dust and makes them safe to wear. You could also use a piece of sandpaper to rough-up the face of the earring post, as this helps the glue to stick better.
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Decorate the studs. Now you're free to attach anything you like to the face of the earring post.
- Pearl or glass beads are an easy option that produces simple, pretty results. Just place a drop of glue on the earring post and press the bead against it, holding it for a minute while the glues sets.
- To make flower studs, cut out eight circles (each one slightly smaller from the last) from the colored net fabric. Layer the circles one on top of the other to form a flower pattern, then use a threaded needle to sew a small bead onto the center of the flower. Secure the flower with a couple of stitches at the back. Place a dot of glue on the earring post and stick the flower on top.
- The easiest option is just to cover the face of the earring post in some gold, silver or colored glitter glue and wait for it to dry. Then you have a simple sparkly earring!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Earrings from Unique Materials

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Make bottle cap earrings. Next time you pop open a bottle of soda make sure to save the caps, as you can use them to make these cute earrings!
. If you're a bit of a tech-junkie, these funky SIM card earrings are the perfect accessory!
Make feather earrings. Feather earrings are pretty and unique, adding a free-spirited feel to your look.
Make book earrings. Bookworms rejoice! Now you can wear books in addition to reading them!
. If you're a bit of a foodie, these earrings are perfect for you - they double up as a whimsical accessory and a tasty snack!
. Origami is the delicate Japanese art of folding paper, which is used to make these pretty earrings.
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Make quilling earrings. Quilling is another paper-based project. Coil long strips of paper and form those coils into unique designs for some stylish new jewelry.
- If origami and quilling aren't your style, there are lots of other paper earrings you can make, too!
. Everybody always has a bunch of spare buttons lying around, so why not repurpose them into some twee little studs?

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I make earrings out of paper clips?

Community Answer

Use the wire to twist them into shapes that resemble French hook ear wires. Then, you can follow the same process. Snip off the excess while attaching the beads, pearls, etc. Make sure you are working with clean paper clips and that you're not allergic to them.

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How long will it take me to make earrings?

Community Answer

The time length depends on the type of earrings you make, your ability with the particular materials and the competence you have in creating them. All of those variables are so vast that it's not possible to state a time. The sooner you get started, the sooner you'll learn how.

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How can I sell my earrings?

Community Answer

You can always sell your handcrafted items on crafting websites, such as Etsy. You can also give them to boutiques to sell for you; keep in mind that the boutique will keep some of the money. Lastly, you can always sell your handiwork at craft fairs and art-and-wine festivals.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

All the metals you use should be non-allergenic. Double-check the type of metal in the earwires you get before making earrings!
Before making stud earrings, ensure the stud backs (the wire) fit your piercing hole.
Be extra careful when using wire—it can be very sharp!

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