Make Feather Earrings

Feather earrings are all the rage in the fashion world right now. They're the ultimate bold accessory, but they can be played down just as easily. Make your very own pair of super-stylish feather earrings by following this simple tutorial!

Steps

  1. Choose good feathers. While the feathers you use are a personal choice, they should be pretty or elegant to look at and in excellent condition. If you're purchasing them, they'll be guaranteed clean and in good condition. If you're finding your own from a walk in the local woods or from your own birds, they should be cleaned first to disinfect them and to remove any dirt, etc.
    • Discard any feathers that are stained, holey or ripped.
    • Good feather choices include peacock, ostrich, swan or duck down, feathers with interesting colors and patterns, such as spots, etc.

Dangling feather earrings

  1. Create a small hole in each feather using the needle or piercing tool. Locate the holes towards the tops of the feathers, but not too close to the edges (otherwise they risk ripping).
  2. Twist open the jump rings. Use the pliers for this part; if you have two pairs, you can hold the ring in one pair and use the other pair to open it up.
  3. Insert the jump rings into the feathers. There should be two rings for each feather, to allow for some room between the hook and the feather itself.
  4. Close the outer jump rings. You should now have two feathers ready to be attached to the French hooks.
  5. Open up the hooked ends of the French hooks. Slide each one onto each outer jump ring, then clamp them closed with your pliers. The feathers should now dangle from the hooks.
  6. Shake them out a little to make sure the hooks and rings are firmly attached. You're done!
  7. Finished.

Clip on feather earrings

  1. Apply a dab of glue to the front of the earring clip. If the clip is particularly small and the feather is large, cut out a small round piece of heavy card and glue this to the clip first; this will provide a broader and stronger surface to attach the larger feather to. Let this dry and attach more glue before proceeding to the next step.
  2. Attach the feather or feathers with glue.
  3. If using a gemstone, glue this over the top of the feather where it joins the clip. This can be a good way to hide any feather end at the point of attachment.
  4. Try the earrings on. Check they're sitting comfortably and you're all set.

Tips

  • Make sure all your metal parts match up––if your jump rings are silver, don't buy golden French hooks!
  • Circles of beads or sequins can be made around a gemstone at the point of attachment on the earring. Alternatively, beads can be included in a dangling earring arrangement.
  • The second method can also be used for shoe clips. Make a matching set of earrings and shoe clips for a complete fashion statement.
  • You can mix and match your feather earrings once you've made them, so don't confine yourself to always wearing the same color in each ear.

Things You'll Need

  • Feathers or feather pads; feathers can be purchased from craft stores or online sources, or you can find your own if you live near birds (but be sure to clean them well); note that feather pads are easier to use than real feathers, and are best for beginners

Dangling feather earrings:

  • Pliers
  • A piercing tool or large needle
  • 4 jump rings at least 7mm in size
  • 2 French hooks

Clip on feather earrings:

  • Earring clips
  • Craft glue or hot glue gun
  • Heavy card for larger feathers
  • Gemstone or bead (optional)

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