DIY Faux Earring Plugs {Polymer Clay Tutorial}

A lot of women fancy gemstone earrings not only for their elegance but also for their rich color. But because many gemstones especially ruby, diamond and sapphire are too precious for everyday wear, people naturally save them for special occasions instead.

Then what type of earring can you wear on a daily basis? For most women, plain studs or metal hoops look good for everyday wear. I’m also guilty of that. However, wearing the same piece everyday can be boring, don’t you think? There will be times when we feel like trying out something new. So if you’re feeling that way, or if you’re the type who wants to look different from the rest, you can try this unique jewelry making tutorial for fun. These false earring plugs are not just colorful and catchy, but they are very easy to make. You can impress and create some for your friends too!

Materials Needed:

• Polymer Clay (Other types of clay aren’t advisable to use)
• Earring Studs
• Earring Nuts (I’ll be using rubber nuts, but metal/silver works too)
• Toothpicks
• Cutter

Preparation:

When working with any type of polymer clay, always condition it beforehand to avoid cracking and crumbling when you bake it. You can do that by stretching and twisting the clay, or you could turn it into a ball and knead it down. Just make sure the entire piece of clay was manipulated. When it’s nice and soft, you can then proceed to the following steps.

Procedure:  

1.  Roll out the clay into a thin strip. Don’t make it too thin or it will have a higher possibility of breaking once baked. We’ll stop with the middle part at around ½” thick. Make both ends of the strips thinner than the middle part. This is mainly just because of the spiral design I’ll be making. Make another strip following the same sizes as your first.

2.  If both strips are ready, you can begin shaping your design. Curve the strips into a spiral as big as you want it to be. Make sure you leave enough room for your ear lobes or your ear might look like it is being squished. Use a toothpick to help you curve the clay into a more closed spiral.

3.  After shaping, decide where you want the earring to appear like it goes through your ear. Cut straight through with your cutter and reshape the clay if necessary. Be sure to cut within the thicker middle part of the clay.

4.  Take the piece you want to put your earring stud into. Stick the earring stud into the flat surface of the cut clay.

5.  Roll out another small piece of clay and knead it flat. It should not be too thick or it will take over the stud’s stem. Pierce the flat clay straight through the stem and cover the stud’s flat surface entirely. Reshape into the original clay design and make it as smooth as possible. You can use the sides of the toothpick as a small rolling pin to make the flat surface neat.

6.  On the other cut clay piece, pierce a small a hole with a toothpick. Don’t make it too deep, just enough depending on how long your earring stud is.

7.  Insert the rubber nut into the hole and reshape the clay to cover the nut’s sides. Don’t cover the whole nut because this will be your guide.

8.  Roll out another small piece of flat clay and use a toothpick to pierce its center. Align the hole with the nut and blend the clay to the clay design. Again, make it as smooth as possible. Reshape the hole with the toothpick so you have a clear view on where the earring stud is supposed to go.

9.  Once both pieces are secure and shaped, gently slot the earring stud into other piece. Don’t make it go all the way through, just enough for you to see the overall shape of your design. Keep them together when you bake the clay.

10.  Bake the clay by following the instructions on your polymer clay’s packaging. Keep in mind that different brands might require different temperatures for the clay to bake properly.

11.  Wait for the clay to cool after baking. Try removing and inserting the stud into the hole to make sure it’s catching properly. If it’s too loose, the earring might fall off when you wear it. You can remedy this by again adding clay to the piece with the nut and baking it again. Enjoy!

About the author:  Hi! I’m Jennalyn. I love anything about fashion, particularly fine gemstone jewellery and personalized accessories. It’s my passion to write about these topics and share tutorials.