How to Make Snowman Earrings

When it comes to icons of the winter season, there are few more jolly or universally enjoyable than the snowman. Snowmen decorations, including jewelry, are appropriate for the entire winter, and can be enjoyed with any winter holiday or with none at all. Help keep the cold weather days cheery with your own set of miniature snowman earrings, fashioned in detail from polymer clay.

Things You'll Need

• Polymer clay
• Craft wire
• Jewelry pliers
• Wire snips
• Craft knife
• Fine-tipped black permanent marker
• Earring hoop fastenings

Instructions

1. Divide the white clay into parts for the snowman. For each snowman, divide 1 tsp. of clay into two equal parts, then divide one of these parts into two unequal pieces, one twice the size of the other.

2. Form the three pieces into balls by rolling them between your flattened fingertips and your work surface.

3. Stack the balls, large to small, and thread a piece of jewelry wire through them so that it protrudes from the snowman shape, out the center of the head and the center of the bottom piece. Position and trim the wire to allow about a 1/2 inch of extra length poking out on either end.

4. Give the snowman arms. Roll a pea-sized piece of brown clay into a long, thin snake about as thick as a toothpick. Lay this on your work station and cut two 1/4-inch lengths (use a magnifying glass to help you, if necessary) using a sharp craft knife. Fork one end of each piece using the tip of the knife to make them look like sticks. Attach the finished arms to the middle section of the snowman body using a needle.

5. Make a scarf and nose for the snowman. Attach a tiny nub of orange clay to the face using the needle, then form it into a point by pinching it. Make the scarf by rolling out a piece of red or blue clay into another toothpick-thick snake. Cut a 3/4-inch piece of this and flatten it between your fingers to make the scarf. If the clay sticks to your fingers, get them wet.

6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to make the other snowman earring.

7. Bake the clay snowmen according to the manufacturer's instructions (the wire will be fine to go through the oven).

8. Trim the wire protruding from the bottom of the snowman. Twist the wire at the top into a hanging loop using needle-nosed pliers.

9. Add the snowmen's eyes, mouth and front buttons using the tip of a permanent marker.

10. Thread the snowmen onto a hoop earring fixture. Open the hanging loop on the earring fixture using pliers, loop the snowman in place, then close the loop again.