These earrings have been very popular so I though I would share how I make them with you. You read the title correctly, these earrings are painted with nail polish! Just think; you could turn your favorite nail polish in to a wearable piece of jewelry! How fun is that?
I like to use nail polish for these because the polish adheres well to the rough metal. I have not tried this with other paints but I am sure there are other paints that would work as well.
This is what the finished product looks like:
If you prefer to purchase these earrings, they can be found here
A kit to make these can be purchased here
Supplies (supplies link to my etsy supply store)
- Nail polish- a color that isn't transparent
- Earring hooks- antique bronze or silver
- Filigree leaf pendants
- Jewelry pliers
Optional supplies:
- Additional nail polish colors
- Acrylic sealer
Prep:
- Gather supplies and protect working surface
- You will want to work in a well ventilated area
Directions:
- The first step is to crinkle the leaves. Doing this gives them a more natural look and adds depth to them. The leaves come flat so you have to crinkle them by hand. The metal is thin and easily bendable. I just use my fingers to bend them until I am satisfied. Please be careful while bending the leaves as they may have some pointy edges.
Flat:
Bending with my fingers:
Crinkled:
- Step 2 is painting the first coat of nail polish on both of your leaves. Do not push hard on the brush. For the most coverage you want to create a 3d layer of polish on the leaf. Think domed like a water droplet. Slowly and lightly drag the brush across one side of each leaf. If polish spills over the side make sure you move the leaf from that spot on the surface. Otherwise the leaf will be stuck to the surface. Now let that side dry completely, moving them every once in a while to ensure that they aren't sticking. You especially want to do this is you are doing this on paper. I have ruined a couple by getting paper stuck to them. Drying time differs depending on the nail polish
- Step 3 is exactly like step 2 except on the other side of the leaves once the fist side is completely dry. Paint the back of the leaves and let dry moving them as they dry. The easiest way to move them while they are drying is to carefully nudge the edge of the leaf with your finger or a pen.
- This part is optional depending on the coverage that you want. I painted a second coat of polish on each side just to get better coverage and better color. This is done exactly like steps 2 & 3. Allow the leaves to dry before moving to the next step.
- This part is also optional but recommended. I have made these without using an acrylic sealer and they hold up just fine but I like the extra protection to prevent chipping. Using an acrylic sealer, spray both sides of the leaves completely ( I like to do 2 coats). If you choose to seal them do not just lay them on paper because they will just get stuck and make a mess. Below is the setup that I use for sealing jewelry. You can buy these at Michael's or make your own from a cardboard box. I taped beading string across the top and made S hooks from wire to hang the leaves. Let the leaves dry completely before moving them or touching them (the acrylic spray contains acetone which will cause the nail polish to smudge if you touch it).
- Once everything is dry we can finish the earrings by attaching the hooks! Bend the loop on the hooks to the side using your pliers. Hook the loop through the circle on the leaves. Close the loop by bending it back the the original position. You now have a pretty new pair of earrings!
Here is an example of using multiple nail polish colors:
- Buy silver earring hooks
- Buy antique bronze earring hooks
- Buy leaf pendants
- Buy a kit to make these earrings
