Old Beads and Scraps

Hello there!

By Rachel Scarlett

Today I am posting a simple way to make some really fun earrings! This craft doesn't take too long and can be very useful in your own wardrobe or for gifting. The possibilities are endless (and cheap!).

I started by rummaging through my miscellaneous craft-piece drawers (......junk) and I found these:

If the chunky wood beads above look familiar, they may have been seen around your grandmother's neck on a necklace from that vacation she took to Africa.... I believe this necklace once had a large wooden parrot and/or elephant on it. If grandma hasn't been to Africa recently, then I have also seen many wooden chunky necklaces in places like Goodwill. I have an entire drawer devoted to broken jewelry and that's where these came from. If you don't have anything like this you can use old buttons or anything flat and round~ old game pieces, bottle caps, or even pennies!

Next, I found some lace, glitter, and paper. This is where it gets fun, you can really use anything.

 Paper & Modpodge 

There are a million different kinds of paper. For these you just trace, cut, and modpodge. 

Tips and Alternatives: Make sure the cut circles fit the bead, I even cut mine a little smaller than the bead because I liked the look of the wood edge. When applying the modpodge, there is only need for a thin layer. Use your thumb to flatten out all bubbles or wrinkles when you place the paper on the bead face. Once dry, another layer of modpodge over top of the paper and bead face will help protect the paper.

Lace & Modpodge

This is similar to applying paper but I trim after applying the lace: 

 Tips: As you can see I did not cut the lace to fit the bead till after applied. Apply the modpodge a little heavier for the lace - don't worry, it will all disappear when dried. I also applied a good 1 to 2 coats over top the lace to make sure it was completely secure. Once dried and stiff, I used a small set of sharp scissors to trim closely around the edge; a razor blade can work too.

 Alternatives: Although I chose to show off the edge of the lace and only cover half the bead, you can most definitely cover the whole thing. Fabric can also be applied this way and add a bit more texture than paper.

Glitter

This uses glitter and modpodge (or glue). Just coat the bead and dip.

Tips: This usually takes several layers of glittering. Each time, I flatten down the sparkles with my finger, into the glue, let it completely dry and put on another layer. Also, brush or tap off any extra glitter before adding the next layer.   You can apply a top coat of modpodge, it won't take away the sparkle and will prevent your husband from getting angry at trails of glitter droppings ;).

Earring Backs

And of course at the end of all the decorating, it's time to make these functional! Earring backs will have to be bought from a craft store. Super glue worked well for these but you might consider a thicker glue depending on the surfaces you will be gluing. As you can see, I offset the backs on the bigger lace earrings, preferring that they sit a little lower on my earlobe.

And there you have it! A few new fun earrings! Just find something little and round, add some glue and paper and easy peasy. 

These are so much fun because you can make them specifically for any outfit or person. Other ideas for supplies could be newspaper or magazine pages, cartoons, monogram letters printed on paper, holiday inspired paper, wrapping paper, fabric, perhaps fall leaves.... The map earrings above are specifically made from maps of a road trip I took with a friend, so they are more of a memento for me than the others. You don't have to be in a craft store to get crafty, see what's around you!