DIY: 3 Simple, Beautiful Polymer Clay Earrings — Even Kids Can Make These!

Homemade earrings that don’t look homemade at all! And so easy that your kids can get involved too. How does that sound?

Amy Christie, who is the established queen of polymer clay, sent me this idea for 3 different polymer clay earrings and I loved it immediately. I’m perpetually on the hunt for sweet, pretty, usable, handcrafted projects. Ideas that are perfect for a rainy afternoon, or for a Ladies Crafting Night, or for a birthday party activity, or to make as a gift. And this project definitely fits the bill!

Before we jump into the instructions, I’d love to hear: have you ever made your own jewelry? In my experience it takes a particular patient frame of mind from me, because the elements are so small and can escape my fingers easily. Maybe that’s why kids take to this kind of project so well — they have smaller hands!

Here’s what Amy says:

Earrings are my jewelry of choice. I rarely wear necklaces and bracelets because as a mom of toddlers, they are either a nuisance, in the way or irritating on my skin. Little hands like to pull on them as well which is no good. So earrings, I love them. As it is, polymer clay, another one of my loves, is a fantastic medium to make earrings from (as well as other jewelry pieces, if you are so inclined).

I put together steps for 3 easy polymer clay earrings. These are so simple, little hands can do them with a small amount of assistance from an adult.

1) Polymer Clay Earrings – Circle Posts

A very simple circle earring post with little hatch marks for interest.

You need:
– polymer clay (we like Sculpey Premo)
– rolling pin, brayer or pasta machine
– small shape cutters or punches, optional
– dull edge (like a butter knife)
– earring posts
– strong adhesive (a two-part epoxy or E6000 is best)

1. Roll the polymer clay. Thick is good. If using a pasta machine, use the 9 setting.

2. Cut out shapes with a cutting blade or clay punch.

3. Using a dull edge, make hatch marks radiating from the center.

4. Bake according to the manufacturer’s directions.

5. Allow to cool before attaching the earring posts with glue.

2) Polymer Clay Earrings – Cut “Gems”

I love these post earrings because they are so easy, they look really fancy and they don’t have to be perfect!

You need:
– polymer clay (we like Sculpey Premo)
– cutting blade
– gold pen
– earring posts
– strong adhesive (a two-part epoxy or E6000 is best)

1. Cut down the unconditioned block of polymer clay into a cube by removing the outer edges of the clay.

2. Next, cut the cube into a “gem”. We gave ours 6 sides but the number is up to you.

3. To make the facets, lay the gem on its side. Take the cutting edge and, setting it at a 45 degree angle, slice a facet. Repeat for each edge.

4. Bake according to the manufacturer’s directions.

5. Once cooled, use a gold pen to trace the edges.

6. Allow to cool before attaching the earring posts with glue.

3) Polymer Clay Earrings – Gold Crinkle Disks

A little shimmery shine.

You need:

– light colored polymer clay (white or pearl) — we like Sculpey Premo
– rolling pin, brayer or pasta machine
– gold leaf
– circle cutter
– spoon
– earring posts
– strong adhesive (a two-part epoxy or E6000 is best)

1. Roll the polymer clay very thin. If using a pasta machine, use the 1 setting.

2. Add gold leaf to the polymer clay.

3. Use a circle cutter to make two circles.

4. With the backside of a spoon, gently thin the edges even more. This makes the clay even more flexible.

5. Using your fingers, gently pinch and squeeze the clay into a wavy, crinkled circle.

6. Bake according to the manufacturer’s directions.

7. Allow to cool before attaching the earring posts with glue.

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Aren’t those polymer clay earrings fantastic! Thank you, Amy. I think the faceted “jewels” are my favorite, but I really love the crinkled gold ones too. I can’t wait to make some!

P.S. — Find all our DIY posts here.

Credits: Images and project by Amy Christie.