Leather earrings are everywhere! I can’t go anywhere these days without seeing someone wearing a pair.
They are popular for good reason. They are super lightweight. You don’t even feel like you have earrings on! They come in so many different colors, styles, and patterns. It is an instant pick me up to any outfit.
I am a fan.
Leather earrings have come a long way in the last few years and small shops are catching on. Sure you could cut your own earrings or use a cutting machine to make your own, but what if you don’t want to? What if a cutting machine is outside your budget?
Many online shops now carry earring shapes already cut! They come in many different styles and shapes. All you need is some pliers, a punch, and hooks! It is so easy and fun! A great handmade gift your girlfriends would love OR a special treat just for you!
Let’s make some leather earrings!
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FIRST, DECIDE WHAT KIND OF DIY LEATHER EARRINGS YOU WANT TO MAKE
You can make so many different types of earrings. The sky is the limit! Here are some ideas to get you started.
TEARDROP earrings are super popular. I have a SVG teardrop cut file here. You could hang them from the narrow end or you could punch a hole in the rounder part.
THICK OVAL WITH A CUT OUT MIDDLE. This style is timeless and lightweight. A great look for anyone.
FOLDED TEAR DROP - Joanna Gaines made this earring known on Season 5 of Fixer Upper. I love this look. I made a tutorial for this earring here.
CIRCLE EARRINGS - How about just a round circle? You could have a circle only or one with a small hole cut out in the middle. I have a Cricut tutorial for a round earring with a hole cut out here.
CIRCLE STUD EARRINGS - Not a fan of big earrings? How about a simple circle glued to an earring back? Super classic.
TRIANGLE STUD EARRINGS - In the same way, take a triangle cut leather piece and glue it upside down on an earring back for another stunning look. Metallic gold would be great for this earring! You could also purchase a larger triangle and use a hook!
FEATHER EARRINGS Feather earrings are a statement! You could make them small or large. Play with this one!
LONG RECTANGLE EARRINGS Joanna Gaines made this earring popular in earlier episodes of Fixer Upper. It is a classic look.
Update 12/14/19. We added more leather die cut ideas to this post! If you see a new leather cut, let us know so we can keep everyone updated.
OVAL CUTOUT EARRINGS. Oval cutout leather earrings are a fun alternative to teardrop shape. You could add a post to this earring as well!
WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED TO MAKE LEATHER EARRINGS?
Now that we have your creative juices flowing, let’s chat about WHERE to get your leather. Remember, the goal is NOT to cut anything. Here are some shops:
Mission Leather Supply - They have it all! From shapes to color to purchasing leather to cut on your own. You can find pretty much anything here. And the prices are so good. This is my first go-to shop.
JL Leather Supplies - JL has a great assortment of embossed and metallic leather. If you like this look, check them out!
Soho Leather Supply - Based in California, this shop just teardrop earrings but we love the varying colors and sizes they offer.
Rachel’s Scraps has many different embossed and patterned tear drop earrings. Her shop is HUGE so browse around!
Accessories by Jamie P is another great shop for teardrop earrings. She has many colors, embossed leather, and metallic options. She also have DIY earring kits with hooks included. Everything you need to make your own.
Hopes Leather Goods is another great shop. They have a great selection of fishtail braided leather cutouts. They have a great selection of color and styles.
The Leather Guy on Amazon has a HUGE selection of die cuts in many different styles.
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE LEATHER EARRINGS
To assemble your earrings you’ll need the following things:
Hooks OR earring backs depending on the type of earring you choose to make
Adhesive ( only if you are using posts in your earrings)
If you are making earrings with hook, use a leather punch to make a small hole in your earring. You can simply attach your hook straight into your earring. Note, I like to use both pliers to help me secure the hooks to the earrings. It takes some time and practice.
Or, you could add a jump ring between your earring and your hook. This is simply a matter of preference.
How long do you want your earring to be? You can always use a jump ring and try it out. Adding a jump ring is not permanent and simple thing to undo.
If you are making triangle or circle post earrings you’ll need to attach an earring back to your leather with adhesive. Be sure to follow the instructions on the adhesive you use.
Good job! You did it!