How to Make Polymer Clay Earrings
Make your own polymer clay earrings in 1 hour or less. Follow our step by step photo and video tutorials to design your own DIY earrings!
Yield: 1 pair of clay earrings
Cost: $5
Equipment
- Clay roller (or rolling pin)
- Clay cutters (or small cookie cutters; 1-1/4 and 3/4 inch)
- Clay needle tool (or paperclip, metal skewer)
Materials
- Polymer Clay (several colours)
- 6 Jump rings (2 x 6mm, 4 x 10mm)
- Earring hooks
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Condition and roll out the clay
- Begin by "conditioning" your clay - kneading it until it feels soft and easy to work with.Then roll the clay into a long, thin "snake" about 2-1/2 times the length of the shape (clay cutter) you want to use.
- Repeat with all the colours of the rainbow, or as many as you'd like to include in your earring.Line all the colours up next to each other in the order you'd like, so that the clay pieces are pressed together.
- Cover the clay snakes with a piece of parchment paper.
- Use the clay roller to flatten the clay together, blending the colours. Roll until the clay is about 1/8 inch thick.Make sure that the clay has completely come together, with no gaps between the colours.
- Carefully peel off the parchment paper. You should now have one smooth multi-coloured piece of clay.
Step 3: Cut out circles from the clay
- Decide where you'd like to place your larger (1-1/4 inches) clay cutter. Make sure you have room for the second earring.Press the cutter into the clay.
- Make a second circle in the clay with the larger cutter. If you want your earrings to be identical, line up the circle on the same colours.Then center the smaller cutter inside one of the large circles and press down.
- If the smaller circle doesn't come out with the cutter, carefully remove it from the middle. Set it to the side.Repeat with the other circle. Don't use any sharp tools and try not to warp the middles when removing them.
- Peel away the excess clay, leaving only the circles.
Step 4: Chill and make holes for the jump rings
- Transfer the 4 circle cut outs to a parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes.Chilling the clay will help it keep its shape when you're making the holes for the jump rings.
- Use a clay needle tool (or something else pointed, like a toothpick or blunt tapestry needle) to make holes in the top and bottom of the small circles, about 4mm away from the edge.The holes should be large enough for a jump ring to go through (at least 1mm).
- Then make a hole at the top center of the larger circle.
Step 5: Bake the clay
- Bake in the oven (or toaster oven) according to package instructions.We baked ours at 275F for 15 mins, but the exact baking time will depend on the type of clay and the thickness of the earrings.Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Step 6: Add the earring findings
- Insert a larger 10mm jump ring into the hole of the large circle. Don't close it off yet.
- Add the bottom hole of the smaller clay circle onto the same jump ring, connecting the 2 pieces.
- Use a pair (or 2 pairs, if you have them) of needle nose pliers to close off the jump ring.
- Open a second large jump ring and add it to the top hole of the small clay circle.Keep the jump ring open.
- Add a smaller jump ring (6mm) onto the larger one.
- Use the pliers to close the larger jump ring and open the smaller one.
- Now place your earring hook onto the small jump ring, making sure the hook part faces to the back of the earring.Close off the small jump ring.
- Your polymer clay earrings are complete!
Video
Notes
Looking for more DIY jewelry? Here's a few of our favourites:
Polymer Clay Beads
DIY Wire Wrapped Pendant
Origami Crane Earrings