Introduction:

Earrings have long been a favorite accessory for fashion enthusiasts. Personalizing your style has never been easier with the advent of DIY jewelry projects. One unique option is to create book-shaped earrings, which are perfect for book lovers, librarians, authors, or simply those who appreciate a fun and distinct piece of jewelry.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of making book earrings step-by-step. Let’s get started!

Materials You’ll Need:

Two small rectangles of cardboard or thin wood (about 1″ x 0.5″ each)

1. Lightweight paper (white or off-white)

2. Pencil or pen

3. Glue stick or clear craft glue

4. Small paintbrush

5. Hole punch or hand drill

6. Two earring hooks (silver, gold, etc.)

7. Jump rings (two small and two large)

8. Needle-nose pliers

9. Scissors

10. Craft knife (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Cardboard/Wood Pieces

Take your cardboard/wood rectangles and use scissors or a craft knife to cut them into smaller rectangular pieces that resemble the size of  mini book cover.

Step 2: Create the Pages

Cut a strip of lightweight paper that’s twice the width of your mini book cover and long enough to fold into an accordion fashion so that it appears to have multiple “pages.” Aim for at least four folds per side.

Step 3: Fold Your Pages

Next, fold your paper strip accordion-style so you create several “pages.” Make sure each fold is straight and evenly-spaced.

Step 4: Attach Pages to Covers

Apply glue on one side of your cardboard/wood cover and press one end of the folded paper against it. It should align horizontally with the middle of the cover. Allow the glue to dry, then repeat this step for the other earring.

Step 5: Punch Holes

Use your hole punch or a hand drill to create a small hole at the top center of both book covers. Make sure they are even and sufficiently away from the edge to prevent tearing.

Step 6: Prepare Earring Hooks

Open the loop of your earring hooks gently with needle-nose pliers, being careful not to bend it out of shape.

Step 7: Attach Jump Rings

Thread a large jump ring through the hole on one of your book earrings and use needle-nose pliers to close it securely. Then, attach a small jump ring to the large one, and finally attach the earring hook by threading its open loop through the smaller jump ring. Repeat for the other earring.

Step 8: Secure Hooks

Close the opened loop of each earring hook with needle-nose pliers, ensuring that they are secure and properly aligned.

Congratulations! You’ve created your very own pair of book-inspired earrings. These statement pieces will surely spark conversations and showcase your creative talents and love for literature.

Remember that you can experiment with different materials, colors, and patterns for book covers when making more earrings—allowing you to create truly unique DIY accessories that you’ll be proud to wear or give as gifts. Happy crafting!