How to Make Crafts Using Clip-on Earrings

Clean out your grandma's jewelry box for clip-on earrings for crafting.

Clip-on earrings were the earring of choice until pierced ears went main stream for women in the 1960s. Often elaborate and intricately detailed with faux pearls and glass jewels, clip-ons make glamorous costume jewelry pieces. But with their weight, pinching clip, and dated look they are not always easy to wear. Instead of letting these vintage treasures languish in a drawer, use them to add an unexpected splash of color and dash of fun to otherwise plain objects.

Things You'll Need

• Needle-nose pliers
• Box cutter
• Magnet tape
• Hot-glue gun and hot glue sticks
• Metal link bracelet
• Plain metal hair barrettes
• Bobby pins

Instructions

Refrigerator Magnet

1. Choose a large clip-on earring with a flat design. Remove the hardware from the back of the earring with pliers.

2. Cut a piece of magnet tape slightly smaller than the back of the earring with a box cutter.

3. Apply hot glue to the magnet and press it firmly to the back of the earring.

Paper Clips

1. Choose a clip-on earring with a strong, springy clip. Use the earring as is, as a paper clip, or modify it for hanging.

2. Cut a small strip of magnet tape with a box cutter. Apply hot glue to the magnet and press it firmly to the back of the clip.

3. Use the magnetized clip-on earring for securing notes, a child's latest work of art or important papers to a refrigerator, file cabinet or magnetized office board.

Vintage Bracelet

1. Choose five to ten color-coordinated clip-on earrings of similar size with functioning clips.

2. Clip the earrings, evenly spaced, around a metal link bracelet.

3. Apply a small amount of hot glue along the clips and the bracelet links to hold the earrings in position and prevent them from coming loose.

Hair Accessories

1. Remove the hardware from the back of two small clip-on earrings using pliers.

2. Apply hot glue to the back of one earring. Press the earring firmly to the flat side of a plain metal hair barrette.

3. Apply a small amount of hot glue along one side of a bobby pin. Press the bobby pin firmly to the back of the second earring. Apply a small amount of hot glue along the seams for extra strength.

Tips & Warnings

• Find clip-on earrings at yard sales, in your grandmother's jewelry box or antique stores.

• In removing the hardware from a clip-on earring, use caution so you do not break the earring.

References

• Country Living: Recycled Craft Ideas -- Jewelry Magnets (9)
• CraftStylish; Vintage Jewels Made New; Jan 09
• Goodwill; Repurposing Vintage Jewelry; Jan 11
• Crystalinks: Body Piercing

Resources

• Making Jewelry Now; Grandma's Earring; Joan Williams