For the third day of A Gift a Day, I made earrings.
Earrings
Supplies:
earring hooks (I bought these at Walmart, 42 in a package for $2)
earring findings (I bought these at Walmart, 100 in a package, for $2. There are two different kinds inside.)
beads or past pieces of jewelry that you’ve taken apart (You can buy beads at Walmart, but Michael’s and Joann’s have a better selection. Check when they go on sale for 40% off, and also look at garage sales, thrift shops, and your own jewelry box for things that you can remake. I suggest looking at any broken jewelry that you have kept.)
| This pair was made from a single earring that originally had three crystal circles hanging from chains. |
Tools:
needle-nosed pliers
wire cutters
A word about tools: Your husband may already have these tools in his tool box; mine does. He doesn’t mind me borrowing the pliers, but for some reason he minds when I borrow his wire cutters. I bought myself a pair of wire cutters for $1 at a garage sale in October. Garage sales are great places to find tools for very little.
| The pair I made for my mom, using beads I bought at a friend’s garage sale on Friday. |
Time:
The total time for one pair of earrings is 5 minutes (for construction). Design will take you longer, as will choosing beads if you don’t already have some.
Today I made three pairs of earrings. In addition, I turned a pair of my great-grandmother’s earrings into a wearable pair for myself. I’ve had these for years and I’ve never done anything to fix them. 9 cents and 2 minutes later, and they’re wearable. Interestingly enough, I saw beads just like these at Walmart, so you could make a pair like these if you like them.
| My great-grandmother’s earrings that are now wearable. Antique bronze hooks would have been better, as these were just missing the hooks, but Walmart didn’t have any. Michael’s does carry them. I’m just happy that after owning them for more than 20 years, I can finally wear them! |
Cost:
$0.09 per pair for the ones that I made using one repurposed earring (the blue and gold pair).
$0.15 per pair, plus the cost of beads, for any that you make using findings. I already had the beads for the pair for my daughter, bought years ago, but they were no more than .07 in beads. The pair for my mom were made with beads that I bought at a garage sale on Friday, which makes the beads about .05, so $0.20 for a pair of earrings.
Did you make any presents today?
I made a reversible placemat for my son with a utensil holder on it…I am going to make one for each of my kids for Christmas. The other day I made a bib for my 1 month old daughter for Christmas. I got my fabric on sale at Joann’s plus used the 25% off coupon so I got a good deal and have tons of projects for Christmas now.
I made lacy buckwheat biscuits for my father. He has celiac disease. Fathers are celebrated on the second sunday in November (instead of June) in Finland. I used recycled packaging for shipping and altered a powdered milk packaging into simple biscuit box.
Someone in you family has wonderfully beautiful handwriting.
I can’t get over how talented you are. Especially with a large family, homeschooling and all the cooking you do, you just carve out time to make beautiful things. You even make me want to craft and I have zero creativity in my body!
http://homeliving.blogspot.com/2012/10/easy-to-make-fleece-shawl.htmlHi Brandy,I am working on this shawl as a gift for a daughter. Isn’t it cleaver and inexpensive when you have the material. But even if you buy the material with a coupon and such it is inexpensive and just darling!Blessings,Suzanne
The earrings you made a beautiful! The last present I made was a pillow for my daughter on her birthday in June. I used to make potpourri sachets and ornaments for Christmas for everyone on my list…Might do that this year if my energy comes back.
I cut out two dolls this morning, got out some silk to make a scarf today, and finished a purse, I posted a picture here on my Christmas bucket list.http://sillygeesedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/thinking-about-christmas.htmlI'll add pictures of the dolls and scarves when they are finished:DLove the earings, I have one pair of hooks, need to figure out what I’ll put on them:D
I love the earrings. My 11 year old is crafty and just got her ears pierced, so I will give her a box of beads and earring findings for Hannukah. I am also planning out how I will package homemade granola to use for Christmas and Hannukah gift giving. I welcome any suggestions about this!!!
Miriam, that would be such a wonderful gift at our house! My husband, one of our daughters, & one of our granddaughters have celiac, so homemade candy is a must for any holiday. – Marivene
Jenn, these are really 5 minutes or less. You can do them!
My daughter asked for her own wire cutters for her birthday. She’s about the same age. I bought her a pair for $1 at a garage sale. I think your daughter would love it.I would put the granola in a glass jar.
If you have an extra pair of gold ear wires, you could try to darken them by holding them (with the pliers, so you don’t burn your finger) above the flame of a candle. It will darken them a bit and they might better match your grandmother’s earrings. 🙂 I have a very, very similar pair made with beads from a necklace my mother had. The necklace had broken, and rather than repair it, I’ve used the beads in multiple projects.All your earrings are just lovely!
I have also put granola in a clear (cellophane clear) plastic bag and tied it with a pretty ribbon, adding a nice tag. If you’re mailing granola, then you don’t have to worry as much about breakage.
And these are so simple and quick to make, similar to lacy oatmeal biscuits, if they are familiar to you. I wonder if you have buckwheat meal (like oatmeal, made of buckwheat) I’d like to share the recipe with you. Email me miriaminmaailma@gmail.com
Hi!I love the ear rings.In Erie beach glass can be found on the beaches at Presque Isle .Some local artists use the beach glass to make ear rings and necklaces.Some of the colors that are found in the beach glass on the shores of Presque Isle are the same colors of the beads you used for your gifts.Pat
I just love the earrings, I never realized how easy they would be to make. I am going to look for some beads and the materials at walmart to try and make some for christmas. Thanks for your wonderful ideas, they are very inspiring!!!
Have fun!
I made a contact lens case for my husband. He always takes his glasses and contact case with him (just in case) whenever he goes to play basketball. Usually he throws it all in a plastic bag. When I saw this tutorial: http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/12/contact-lens-case-tutorial/I knew this was the perfect, thoughtful, inexpensive gift for him. I used leftover Razorback fabric from when I made him an ipad cover. All of the other materials I had on hand so this gift is very inexpensive. The only major change I made to the pattern was using a velcro/tab closure intsead of ribbon. (I thought the ribbon would look too girly.) Hope everyone’s sewing plans are going well!
What a great idea. I can’t wear earings but this inspired me to look into making my own bracelets and such. I never buy accessories as if I have money to spend it’s on stuff we need.
Brandy, these are BEAUTIFUL! I love all of them!
Wow, what a great idea. I wear earrings like this a lot, with small pieces of turquoise. Now I can make them myself!! Fantastic. Thank you.
I realize this is an old post, but it caused me to have a wonderful idea. I haven’t been able to wear earrings since my first pregnancy. Some type of hormonal change causes me to be allergic to earrings now. Anyhow, I just realized I can make clip-ons out of my old earrings and be able to wear them again. Thank you.