Christmas Earrings

1. Welcome : The Hello, creative friends. I am Mona from India, and I am so excited to welcome you to this special course on making beautiful Christmas parings. As a clay artist who has been teaching online for the past ten years, I love sharing simple yet stunning crafting techniques with you. You can find more of my work on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Mona Arty. In this class, we are going to dive into the festival sprit by creating fee gorgeous design using air dry clay, the classic Poinsettia earrings, the elegant wreath earrings, and the adorable Santa hat earrings. These projects are designed to be easy to make and are perfect for all skill levels, even if you are a beginner, best of all, you won't need any special or expensive tools. So let's grab our clay and start crafting some holiday sparkle. Mm. 2. Let's Check the Materials : Let's now see what materials are required to make these lovely earrings. These earrings are made with air dry clay, so our main material will be air dry clay. I have taken clay in three colors, red, green, and white. It's cold porcelain clay. You can take any air dry clay that comes pre mixed with colors. You can use super clay, cold porcelain, or any ready made or homemade clay. Next, you need jumping, ear hooks, eye pin, and some golden beads. These are jewelry findings, then you will need glue. For glue, you can use all purpose glue, fabric glue, or wood glue. These give the best result with clay. Next to seal our work, we will need varnish. I have taken this decor varnish. It will create a protective layer on our work and also add gloss. Next, we will need a few tools which include this texture tool. It's optional, a knife, a paintbrush, a metal router, acrylic roller, nose flier, and a wire cutter. You will also need a plastic sheet or OHB sheet, and a little bit of corn floor. That's all the material we need. So let's start making our lovely earrings. 3. Poinsettia Earrings : So let's start by making the points at here flour earrings. For this, I have taken green colored clay. First, knead this clay well, which means you have to do the conditioning. Conditioning helps to equalize the moisture level in the clay, making the clay very soft and flexible. Also, the chances of cracks appearing in it are reduced. Now, I have taken an OHB sheet for the surface below on which we will roll this. Although we can also do it on a graft met, which is non sticky surface, but later on, you have to pick up the earrings and place them elsewhere to dry. So we will place the clay on the OHB sheet and use an acrylic roller to flatten it. We need to keep the thickness around two M, not too thin and not too thick. You can see it here. After this, I have taken a five petals flow cutter. You need to dust the flour cutter in C floor. This is a small tip to ensure that the cutter never sticks to the clay and you get a very neat cut like this. See here. We will use a knife to remove the excess clay and clean up the ses. Next, we'll take a toothpick and use it to make a hole on a petal, leaving a little gap. In this hole, we will later insert the jump ring once the piece is dry. Now we will make the petals on top of this using red colored clay. So first I'm conditioning the red colored clay, that means I will knead it for a while. See how soft and smooth it has become after kneading. Now after this, we will take a small part of the clay and form a ball, making this right now just to check the size of the petal, give it a drop shape, then flatten it. And after flattening it, I am placing it on top of the green petal to check the size. It's just a simple. This size looks just right to me. Now, I will make the rest of the balls in the same size I need to make ten balls of this size. Five petals will be used on each of the two earrings. So we need ten balls of the same size, but I will make two extra ball just in case any ball turnout to be too small or too big. This way, we can skip it and use the next one or simply use the best ten. After making all the balls, we will create petals from them. We will stick five petals, each onto the green petal ear on both earrings. To prevent our clay balls from drying out on the surface, in the meantime, I'm covering them with a polypy. I will take out the balls one by one. To shape the petal, first, give the ball a drop shape. After that, you need to flatten next, I will place the petal on my fingertip and use a toothpick to create a texture on it. First, I will place the toothpick in the center, rotate it to the left side, then to the right side. You can see the lovely wining effect that has appeared on it. After this, I will slightly pinch the lower end of the petal. This one is the upper end and this one is the lower end. Gently pinch it. Then we will apply glue onto the green petals and stick it. While sticking, make sure that the red petal is placed in between the two green petals. This layer must be placed in a way that every red petal is polition between the green petals. Now, let's make the next one. We make the ball in the same way, give it a drop shape, and flatten it. Then we create the leaf impression by using toothpake, place it in the center, then rotate it left side, and then right side. Pinch the lower end apply glue and stick it onto the green petal in between two green petals. It might take you some time to make the first two or three petals, but then you will get the hang of it and be able to make them very easily. So all the five red petals are now attested. The white portion you see here is all glue, which will become transparent after drying. Now we need to slightly flatten the center portion for this. I am using the backside of a paintbrush. On the other earring, we will also create the red colored layer on the green petal base. Make all the five petals in the same way. See, I have finished this one. The first layer was our green petals. The second layer was our red petals. Now the topmost layer also need to be made with red petals. In this layer, we also need to make five petals each on both earrings. However, the size of these petals will be slightly smaller than the red petals we made earlier. Therefore, we will make the ball slightly smaller than the previous one. The difference will be very minor. You can see here. So let's make ten balls just like before. The rest of the process is the same. We need to make the ball, give it a drop shape, flatten it, create the winning impression with the help of a toothpick, and then stick on the red petals. Pinch one end. When sticking them here, we again need to make sure to stick them with the help of blue onto the layer beneath. No like this. So let's continue and make more petals in the same way. We need a total of ten petals, five for each. In this way, the topmost layer of five petals will be attached to both earrings, and then we will use the paint brush to press it down in the center. The first layer was of green petals, then the second layer was made with red, and the third layer is also made with red colours. Now in center, we will stick some golden beads apply glue at the center portion. And stick two to three beats there. So our clay work is complete. Now we'll need to let it dry. To dry it, we will gently cover it with a poly bag or a cloth and place it in an area where there is no strong weight or direct sunlight. We need to dry it very slowly. Drying it slowly will ensure that it dries evenly and the chances of cracks appearing will be very low. It may take two to three days to dry completely. So let's allow it to dry. So our earrings are completely dry in three days. Look at the backside. It is also very neat and clean. You can finish it off by sending it with sandpaper or scrapping it with a knife if needed. Like this. Do very gently. A beat has come off, so I am sticking it back with glue. Check the rest of the beats as well. After this, we will take four jump rings and two ear hooks. Two jump rings will go into one earring along with the ear hook. Take your noseplier and use them to open one jump ring. Insert the second jump ring and the ear hook inside it and then close this jump ring using nosepler Now, open the lower jump ring and insert it into the hole we made in the petal. Gently insert the jump ring into the hole and then use the nose flier to close it. See our earring is ready. Now, we will do the second one. You can also insert the jump ring and the ear hook in a different way. First, open one jump ring with the help of the nosepler, then insert it into the hole we made in the green petal and close the jump ring. Next, open the second jump ring. And insert the jump ring that is already inside the petal and the ear hook into and then close it. So the ear hooks are now attached to both our earrings. Now we will apply varnish over them. The varnish will give it a glossy finish and we also protect it from humidity and moisture, ensuring the colors remains exactly as they are. I am using decor varnisha, which is the gloss type. You can also use spray varnish. I have dispensed a little bit of ish. I am applying a thin layer onto both earrings with the help of a brush. Right now, it looks milky white, but after drying, it will become completely transparent. Apply it to the front side first. And when that is dry, apply it to the back side also. In this way, apply it to both sides alternately and let them dry. And look, they are completely dry in just 10 minutes. I applied wish to both sides, and now they have a, beautiful, glossy finish. I am inserting them into a lovely, pretty earring card. And, look, our Poinsettia earrings are ready. What do you say? Aren't they lovely? 4. Wreath Earrings : Next, we are going to make wreath hearings. I have taken red colored clay and we need to condition the clay. Condition it for a minimum of four to 5 minutes. After this, we need to make a ball from it, and then make a thin roll. Continues making a long thin roll. Apply even pressure on it and roll it with your finger. Keep rolling it gently and slowly. The thinner and more even the roll is, the more beautiful your earrings will look. The length doesn't matter too much here because we will use as much as we need and cut off the axis. Keep rolling Now, we will fold it, pinch from both sides. Now Hold it from one side and twist it gently. Do very gently. The center part will be loose, so you need to slowly make the center part even as well. Now, we need to make a small circle. For this, I have taken a small bottle. Make sure to take a small size, or you can also take a small cutter to use to make a perfect circle. So I will place this bottle in the middle and wrap this clay roll around it using the best part of the clay. Like this. But before that, I am taking an OHB sheet, which is a plastic sheet, and I will form the circle while keeping it on the sheet. I have placed the best part around the bottle. Now, cutting the excess, but leaving a little extra so we can overlap it at the joint. Now we will apply glue at the joint and while overlapping it, we will press it slightly and stick it. Then gently remove the bottle or whatever you use to form the shape. The joint section will be the upper part of this earring. Now, let's make the second one. In the same way, we need to make a long thin roll. Roll gently. If you are having trouble making one long roll or if you can't manage it, you can make two rolls and join them. I am folding this long roll in half and pinch them together at both ends. Now, just like before, I am twisting it from one side to create a rope like texture. Do very carefully and pay attention to the center portion, as you need to even that out as well. Press both sides to secure it after this. Place it on the plastic sheet again to form a circle around the bottle, just like the first one. Choose the best part of the roll. Cut the excess. Apply glue at the joint, overlap it, press it, adjust the shape, and then remove the bottle. Now, we will let both circles semi dry. It will take ten to 12 hours. So let's wait So after tw hours, look, they have become semi dry. They are not completely dry now. Now, I have taken an epinearhk and nose plier, and a wire cutter. First, I have taken the ipin. I have applied glue to the ipin and then we will carefully insert it at the joint where we overlap and join the clay. Carefully inserted. While inserting, make sure that the loop's position is parallel to the circle. It should be like this. Now we will cut the access part from the bottom, leaving it just 1 centimeter long. Now take the ear hook. We will open the loop using the nose flier and insert it into the epi and then close the loop. Now we will apply glue to this 1 centimeter part we left. And after that, I am attaching a golden bead to it. Look. Now we will do the same thing for the second earring. You can insert the ear hook into the iPan beforehand if you want, open it with the help of nose flier and insert the ear hook, close the loop. Cut the extra length. Now apply glue to the epin and then carefully insert it into our clay circle, making sure that the epin slope is parallel to the circle. Now apply glue to this part and insert a bead. You can add golden bead or white bead as you like. Now we will work with green colored clay condition the clay and then make six small size balls. We will be attaching three leaves each to both earrings. Holding the ball on my fingertip, I give it a drop shape and flatten it. After flattening it, we will make a leaf impression on it using a toothpick. Move the toothpick from left to right. Make both ends a little pointy. Now apply glue to the joint and then stick the leaf We will make two more leaves for this earring. Same way. Make a drop shape, flatten it, make impression using toothpick. Make both ends a little pointy, apply glue, and then place it. It's just the pleasing. Now, the same way, make one more leaf. After sticking all the three leaves, we will press the center lightly with the help of the backside of a paintbrush. Adjust the position of the leaves. So there is equal distance between all the three leaves. Then apply glue in the center and we will stick the golden bead here. This one is ready. Now we will do the second earring. We will make the leaves in the same way from the remaining three balls. Make impression, pise the ends, apply glue on the joint, place the leaf. Press the center lightly and adjust the position of the leaves. Apply glue and place a golden bead there. So both of the earrings are ready to dry. We need to dry them slowly just like before, so place them in a spot where there is no strong wind or direct sunlight. They will take about two days. So let's check them after two days. And look, they are completely dry. Now, we need to apply varnish on them. And for the varnish, I have taken decor varnish just like before. I am dispensing about four to five drops onto a sheet and applying it onto the earring with the help of a brush first on the front side, and once the front side is dry, then on the back side. Just a thin even layer. In this way, apply it to both sides of both earrings. The bonish will give our earrings a glossy finish and protect from humidity and moisture. This varnish takes hardly ten to 15 minutes to dry completely. So let's check them after 10 minutes. All set. Our lovely Christmas wreathearings are ready to sparkle. They are perfectly finished and ready to wear or gift. How lovely. 5. Santa Hat Earrings : Next, we are going to make Santa hat earrings for this. We will need red and white clay. I have taken some red colored clay and I'm conditioning it. After conditioning it for four to 5 minutes, I am making a roll from it. I'm dividing the roll into two equal parts. Then take one piece and make a ball. Now, give it a drop shape to create the drop shape, apply a little pressure on one side to thin it out. Now the bottom needs to be flat, so I pressed it down on the surface. Now, we need to make it hollow. And for that, I am using a pen on the broad portion, insert the pen and gently rotate it, and it will become hollow. Or if you have a specialized tool, you can use a tool like this. Next, place it on the surface to flatten the base. Now, we will make the upper tip a little more pointy and bend it to one side, just like a center head. Now we'll create a white border here. But before that, let's make the second earring side by side in the same way, make a ball, then give it a drop shape. After making the drop shape, place it on the surface to flatten the base. Make the upper tip pointy. Now using the tool to make the bottom hollow gently insert and rotate it. Place it back on the surface to flatten it again and bend the tip to one side. Now we'll compare both of them. The size and shape should be the same for both. After this, we will work with the white clay. After conditioning the white colored clay, making two small balls from it, we are going to make these balls look like pompoms. So I have taken a wire texture tool and using it to create texture. I'm just pressing gently to make it look like a pompom After this, we will make a small hole on one side using a pen or a tool and then stick it onto the tip of the head that we bend, apply little glue, and stick here Press it gently and adjust the shape. Take the second ball. Make texture on it with the help of the texting tool. Make a small hole in the middle with a pen, toothpak or any tool, apply glue and stick it on the tip of the center head. Press it here. Now we are making the border with white colored clay. Make a roll with it. Flatten it with the help of an acrylic roller. Then cut a thin strip using a metal scale. We will also create a texture on this strip using the wire texture tool so that it looks like a woolen strip. So gently press it and create texture on it. After this, straighten both sides of the strip with the help of the scale. Now, apply glue to the head or the backside of the strip and stick it onto the base, the bottom part of the head. Here too, we will check the overlap where the joint is, we will slightly overlap it. Apply glue, overlap the strip, and then cut the excess portion. Gently press and plant the joint. If we don't overlap, a cap will appear after drying due to the slightly shrinkage that occurs. So apply glue well at the joint, overlap it, and press it firmly there. Now, let's work on the second head in the same way. I made a roll of white clay and flatten the roll with the help of an acrylic roller. I am applying the texture now even before cutting. You can do it afterward as Now, use a knife or metal ruler scale to cut a straight, thin strip. After cutting the strip, apply glue to the backside of the strip and stick it all around the head. Cut a little lexis, apply glue, overlap the joint, press it. And so the center heads are made. Now we will attach the epin and ear hook. I have a silver hook and epin a loop is made on the top of this. So we call this ipin, but this one is golden and I want to attach a silver ipin and a silver hook. But I don't have a silver ipin. I have a silver headpin, so I am using the nose player to create a loop on the top of this headpin, and I will give it the shape of an ipin Just bend it carefully with the help of nose flier and make a loop. So look here. Now, it's looking like Pin. I'm cutting the head. Now, apply glue on it and carefully insert this into the top of the head. In the same way, I have bent the second silver headpin to give it an eye pin shape, and I have attached the ear hook to it beforehand. Apply glue onto the pin and insert it into our second earring. Now, we need to set these aside to dry just like before, we need to dry this slowly. This might take a little more time compared to the other two earring designs we made because these are little thicker. So let's leave these to dry. It might take three to four days for them to dry completely. We need to remember to place them where there is no strong wind or direct heat. So let's wait. So these have dried completely in three days. We have already inserted the ear hook in one, and the other one is remaining, inserting the ear hook into the loop, close it with the help of the nosepler. Now, time to varnish them. So just like before, I have taken Decor varnish. Kd just five to six drops, apply it with a brush, thin and even layer. This milky white layer will become completely transparent after drying and dry time is just ten to 15 minutes. Apply it on both hearings on all the sides. After varnish, you can hang them on a paint brush and then place them in a tape rule or in a cup or a stand like this and leave them to dry. And look, our earrings are dry. Now, we are attaching them to the earring card. You can see the glossy finish on them and how lovely they are looking. 6. Final Words: And then bring us to end of our Christmas hearing course. We have successfully created three wonderful designs, the Poinsettia, the wreath and Santa hat earrings. If you enjoyed this course, please take a moment to leave a review. Your feedbacks help me create even better tutorials for you. Now, it's your turn. I would love to see your creations. So please share photos of your earrings in the project section. Bye for now and wish you all a happy and creative holiday season. Happy crafting.