Introduction: Cute (As A) Button Earrings

By My Blog
About: I've got so many projects I could be immortal and never finish 'em all. My home base is in textile arts, but I roam all over the land of making. I'm big into costuming, and anything that's too complicated for …

This is a quick and fun project to make a cute pair of button earrings.

Tools and Supplies:

  • 2 pairs of buttons
  • 24 gauge wire.
  • Two earring findings
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Wire cutters (or sacrificial scissors)

Step 1: Attaching the First Button

Cut around a length of wire, at least five inches long. Wrap the wire around the needle-nosed pliers to create a loop. This is what you will attach the earring finding to later. Then, thread the button onto the wire. This is easiest in steps, threading the wire through only one hole at a time. If the holes in your button are large the button will likely be shaky on the wire; just loop the wire through the holes again to stabilize the button.

Step 2: Adding a Shank Button

Attaching a shank button is more difficult than adding a sew-through button, and it is harder to get then to be stable. To attach a shank button, thread the wire through the shank, and then wrap the wire around each side of the shank. For greater stability, you can also loop the wire around the circumference of the shank.

Step 3: Make Curlicues!

If you want cute little curlicues, use the needle-nosed pliers to form two little loops of wire on each side of the central axis, in a figure-eight pattern.

Step 4: Adding the Second Button

Add the second button exactly like the first, only take care not to deform your curlicues. At the bottom, you can add another loop or curlicue to finish off the earring. Clip the wire, and then gently press the end into the curlicue so that you won't poke yourself with the sharp end.

Step 5: Add the Earring Findings

Repeat all the other steps to make the second earring. Then gently open the loop at the bottom of the earring finding with the needle-nose pliers, add the earring, and then squeeze the loop back shut.

This is a pretty easy project, and quick enough that it's too easy to end up with a pile of these. I have a button collection that is always being looked through for new earrings to make. It's fun to mess around with different combinations of buttons. I have far more earrings now than I should because I love making these so much.