How to Make DIY Birthday Candle Earrings with Cricut
Creating your own DIY Birthday Cake Candle Earrings is a fun and easy way to add a unique touch to your jewelry collection and tell everyone you are celebrating.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or making these as a gift, this tutorial will guide you through the entire process using your Cricut machine. This project is perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, offering a great opportunity to work with faux leather, iron-on vinyl, and a variety of other materials.
Materials and Tools You’ll Need
- Faux leather sheets – I am using this package from Amazon. It cuts beautifully and gives you a lot of color options.
- Iron-on vinyl (heat transfer vinyl)- any colors you want will work
- Painter’s tape – this is to help make sure the faux leather stays secure on your mat.
- Earring hooks – you can use hooks or studs
- Jump rings – mine are relatively small
- Cricut machine (Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore Air, or Cricut Joy) or A Silhouette machine, whichever you prefer for cutting!
- Cricut mat – you can use fabric, standard, or strong grip for this
- EasyPress Mini or an iron
- Fine point blade or deep point blade to cut materials
- Weeding tools for your heat transfer vinyl
- Pliers to attach jump rings and hooks
- Tweezers – I used these to make the jump ring holes so make sure they are pointy!
- Teflon sheet or parchment paper (for heat protection)
- FabriTac glue for gluing together the two sides of the earrings
Download the Free SVG Files
The first step in this project is to download the free SVG files from my blog in the community SVG vault. I have over 850 free SVG cut files available, including the earring SVG file we’ll be using today. Once you’ve downloaded the file, you’ll open Cricut Design Space and upload it. This earring design is customizable, so feel free to adjust the size, colors, and details to fit your style.
Need to learn how to download my free files? For download link instructions for desktop or Chrome please find those here there is a 3 to 4-minute video that will walk you step-by-step on how to download and how to download for iPhone or iPad.
Preparing Your Design in Cricut Design Space
1. Upload the SVG File: Open Cricut Design Space and upload the earring SVG cut file. Once the file is uploaded, you’ll see the design in your canvas. This file includes all the numbers, so you can create themed earrings for any birthday celebration.
2. Ungroup the Design: The first thing you’ll need to do is ungroup the entire file. This will allow you to delete the numbers you don’t need. For instance, if you’re making earrings for your 35th birthday, you’ll keep the numbers 3 and 5 and delete the rest.
3. Adjust the Size: Next, you’ll want to resize the numbers. I recommend making them around 2.75 inches tall, but you can adjust them to your preferred size. My earrings are a decent size, think from my ear lobe to just about to hit my shoulders. Remember, these are your earrings, so feel free to make them as big or small as you like. Use the “size” tool in Cricut Design Space to make your adjustments. Be sure to make the two numbers the same size. You don’t want to have one side huge and one tiny number.
4. Duplicate and Flip the Backing: Most faux leather sheets have a good side (faux leather) and a back side (usually felt or some sort of fabric). To create a sturdy earring with a nice finish on both sides, duplicate the backing of each number and flip it horizontally. This way, when you glue them together, the good side of the faux leather will be visible from both the front and back.
5. Prepare for Cutting: After finalizing your design, it’s time to prepare for cutting. Make sure your design is positioned correctly on the mat. I like to position the design toward the bottom, as this makes it easier to tape down securely and make sure the faux leather was cut fully.
Cutting the Faux Leather and Iron-On Vinyl
Now that your design is ready, it’s time to cut the materials.
1. Secure the Faux Leather: Place the faux leather sheet on your mat. Use painter’s tape to secure all the edges. This prevents the faux leather from shifting during the cut and ensures a clean cut. You can roll over the faux leather with a brayer or a squeegee to make sure if is fully adhered on.
2. Set the Material Settings: In Cricut Design Space, select your base material. For this project, you’ll choose “faux leather (paper-thin)” for the faux leather sheets and “everyday iron-on” for the iron-on vinyl. If you’re using genuine leather, select the appropriate material setting for that as well. Adjust the cut pressure if needed, and ensure you’re using the fine point blade for intricate cuts.
3. Test Cut: If this is your first time working with these materials, it’s a good idea to do a test cut. This will help you confirm that the settings are correct and that the material will cut cleanly.
4. Cut the Iron-On Vinyl: Follow the same steps to cut the iron-on vinyl. Make sure to mirror the design before cutting, especially if you’re using text or directional shapes. This step is important for the vinyl to adhere correctly.
Assembling Your Earrings
With all your pieces cut, it’s time to assemble your DIY Birthday Cake Candle Earrings. This is where your creativity really shines!
1. Weed the Vinyl: Use your weeding tool to remove the excess vinyl from your cut pieces. Be patient, especially with small, intricate cuts like the candle flames or any decorative elements.
2. Apply the Iron-On Vinyl: Preheat your EasyPress Mini to the lowest setting. Place your faux leather earring shapes on a flat surface, good side up. I am using a heat mat as well here. Position the iron-on vinyl pieces on top, using a Teflon sheet or parchment paper to protect the material. Press each piece for about 10-15 seconds with light pressure. Be gentle when removing the carrier sheet to avoid damaging the vinyl.
3. Glue the Backing: If you duplicated the backing earlier, now is the time to glue it on. Apply a liberal amount of fabric glue to the back of the leather, making sure to cover the edges. Press the two pieces together, ensuring the good sides are facing outward. Allow the glue to dry completely before moving on.
4. Poke Your Jump Ring Holes: Using your tweezers, poke your small holes on the top of the earring towards the center so we can add our jump rings. You will also need a small hole in the bottom of the flame and the top of the flame!
4. Add the Jump Rings: Using your needle-nose pliers, poke a small hole through the top of each earring shape. Insert a small jump ring through the hole and secure it with your pliers. Attach a large jump ring to the top of the flame piece and connect it to the small jump ring on the earring. There should be a total of 2 jump rings. One to attach the candle to the flame and then the flame to the earring hook.
5. Attach the Earring Hooks: Finally, attach the earring hooks to the jump ring at the top of each earring. Ensure that the front of the earring is facing forward when worn. Use your pliers to secure the jump rings and earring hooks tightly.
Customizing Your Earrings
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the ability to customize your earrings. Here are a few ideas to make your earrings truly unique:
Different Colors: Experiment with different colors of faux leather and iron-on vinyl. You can create a rainbow of birthday candles or stick to a specific color theme.
Different Shapes: While this tutorial focuses on birthday candles, you can easily adapt the tutorial and use new cut files to create different shapes like stars, hearts, or initials.
Themed Earrings: Customize your earrings for other occasions by changing the design. Consider making holiday-themed earrings or special designs for friends and family.
Tips for the Best Results
Use the Right Tools: Having the right tools on hand, like a weeding tool, fine point blade, and EasyPress Mini, will make the process smoother and ensure professional results.
Test Cuts: Always perform a test cut when working with new materials or designs. This helps prevent wasting materials and ensures clean cuts.
Secure Your Materials: Use painter’s tape to secure your faux leather sheets to the Cricut mat. This prevents shifting during the cutting process, resulting in a clean cut.
Heat Settings: Be mindful of your heat settings when applying iron-on vinyl. Too much heat can damage the faux leather, so start with a low setting and adjust as needed.
Why This is a Great DIY Project
Creating your own faux leather earrings is not only fun but also a great way to make personalized gifts for friends and family. These birthday cake candle earrings make excellent themed earrings for celebrations, but the possibilities are endless. With so many different designs and colors to choose from, you can make earrings to match any outfit or occasion.
This project is also an excellent introduction to working with Cricut machines and various materials. Whether you’re using a Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore Air, or Cricut Joy, this tutorial will help you become more comfortable with the cutting and assembly processes. Plus, it’s a simple project that offers lots of room for creativity, making it a favorite among Cricut enthusiasts.
I hope this step-by-step earring tutorial inspires you to create your own beautiful earrings using your Cricut machine. With the right materials, tools, and a little creativity, you can make unique earrings that are perfect for any celebration.
Stay Crafty!
