Sharing is caring!

A simple but bold DIY idea

Button Earrings make for a cute DIY that has a lot of potential for individuality.

Leading on from last week’s Chip and Dale inspired earrings we have a super quick, easy and effective how to that is also a great way to use up your button stash!

Recently we’ve been working on button jewellery. Buttons can be used for lots of different jewellery items including rings and necklaces. But for this post we are focusing on earrings.

What buttons can be used?

You can use any sort of buttons that you like, any design, but the only thing to be careful of is the size and weight compared to your ears! 

We make stud earrings with buttons. Over the years we’ve bought, and collected, various packs as well as individual earrings. Some of our pairs are matching and some mismatched for a quirky look!

There are two types of buttons to consider, buttons with loop backs (shanks) and buttons with holes for sewing on. Both can be used, one just needs a little adaption first!

What you need to make button earrings

• Buttons
• Wire cutters or flush cutters, 
• Flat earring backs (silver is best or gold as these are less likely to cause an allergic reaction)
• Nail file
• Super glue

for layered button earrings you will need extra

• some wire
• beads

How to make stud button earrings

First thing to do with loop back buttons is remove the loop/shank. If you have a pair of flush cutters these are perfect. However if not then wire cutters will also work. If you are using buttons with holes or flat backs you can skip this step.

When using wire cutters you will need a good quality nail file to get the back as smooth as possible. 

To improve the adhesion of the glue, all buttons need to be filed behind where the stud will be.

After doing this all you need to do is dot on a small amount of super glue then press on the stud backs.

Hey presto a super cute pair of button earrings!

Making stud earrings from layered buttons

Take it up a notch with this layered earring design.

These button earrings are made from classic buttons with two holes.

Instead of having to snip off the shank all you need to do is pick two buttons which go well together and slip a strong but thin piece of wire through. With this pair we used a small pearl bead which coordinated with the buttons too.

Just twist this wire at the back of the buttons, as neatly and small as possible. Then glue a stud on the back.