How to Make Christmas Gnome Earrings
How to Make Christmas Gnome Earrings with a Cricut
I’m still on a roll with my fun and festive holiday earrings. If you haven’t seen my Gingerbread Man Earrings and my Snowflake Earrings tutorials, be sure to check those out. But I’m back today with some Christmas Gnome Earrings, made with faux leather and heat transfer vinyl with my Cricut cutitng machine. This is a really simple design, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
If you haven’t made faux leather earrings with your Cricut yet, this tutorial is a good beginner Cricut earrings project. You can make these DIY Christmas Gnome Earrings with the Cricut Maker, an Explore Air 2 or even the Cricut Joy!
In this tutorial, I’ll give you my step by step instructions and tell you exactly what materials I used to make this project.
A link to download my original SVG file for this project is in the Materials list below.
If you’d rather watch a video tutorial, click on my Christmas Gnome Earrings YouTube video below:
Ready? Let’s get started!
Want to see all of my Cricut earring & jewelry tutorials? CLICK HERE
This post contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.
Christmas Gnome Earrings – Materials List
- A vinyl cutting machine. I used the Cricut Maker for this project (available at Amazon here or at Cricut.com). You can also use the Cricut Explore Air 2 or even the Cricut Joy (see this post on my blog for some specific details you’ll want to know before you cut faux leather with the Joy).
- Smooth white Faux Leather. I used this smooth white faux leather from Amazon. The heat transfer vinyl will adhere better to smooth faux leather than pebbled faux leather because these gnomes are little.
- Heat Transfer Vinyl in Red and Pink. For the gnome’s robe, hat, and the candy cane, I used Siser Glitter HTV in Red . For the hands and nose, I used Siser Easyweed in Light Pink, I also used Cricut brand Foil Iron On in Chrome for the back.
- Cricut Strong Grip (Purple) Cutting Mat. You can buy these on Amazon here.
- Cricut Standard Grip (Green) Cutting Mat. Available on Amazon here.
- Blue painter’s tape. This will help keep your faux leather in place on your mat. You can get it at any hardware store and most big box or grocery stores. Amazon also has it here.
- A weeding tool. I use the weeding tool that came with my Cricut tool set from Amazon here.
- Cricut EasyPress Mat. I like the 8×10 size for making earrings.
- A small hole punch (for punching earring holes in the faux leather). This is my go-to hole punch for making Cricut earrings from Amazon here.
- Earring hooks – I used these silver toned shepherd’s earring hooks from Amazon.
- Small jump rings – I used the silver toned jump rings from this assortment of 6mm size jump rings in different metal finishes from Amazon here. You could also use 5mm size jump rings if necessary.
- Two pairs of flat nose pliers – My favorites are Wubbers brand in the “Baby” size. My everyday use pliers are the Baby Wubbers Chain Nose Pliers and the Baby Wubbers Flat Nose Pliers.
The SVG file template for these Christmas Gnome earrings. It’s design #154 in my free resource library. You can get the password to my library instantly by filling out the form below, or the form towards the bottom of this post.
NOTE: This design is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. If you’d like to sell earrings made from my Christmas Gnome Earrings SVG template, you may purchase a Commercial Use License from my shop here.
DIY Christmas Gnome Earrings – PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1 – Download the SVG Cut Files
Download my free Gnome Earrings SVG file (#154) from my Resource Library. Save the zipped folder that downloads to your computer. Then unzip the folder to access the folder’s contents. You’ll need to unzip or extract the files FIRST so you can upload the cutting file to Cricut Design Space.
STEP 2 – Upload the SVG File to Cricut Design Space
If you need help uploading a file to Cricut Design Space, click here.
When your earring shapes are on your canvas, you can decide if you want to cut the pair with pre-cut earring holes, or without. I’ll be cutting the pair without pre-cut holes and punching the holes myself afterwards. Hide the pair you don’t want to cut by clicking the eye icon next to the layers you want to hide.
These earrings are already appropriately sized, so you don’t need to resize them.
Click the green MAKE IT button.
STEP 3 – Preview the Cutting Mats & Cut the Faux Leather To Size
The mat preview screens will load. The Cricut will cut one faux leather layer and two heat transfer vinyl layers, all separate mats. It’s not necessary to mirror the mats for these project.
Click on the first white mat in the mat preview on the left, and make a note of this size material you’ll need to cut so the gnome earring shapes will cut out completely. For example, in the white faux leather mat preview below, the size material to cut is 2.5 inches wide and about 3 inches tall.
After cutting the white faux leather to size, press the green CONTINUE button.
STEP 4 – Make Material Selections
Now you’ll select your material for the first mat. I like to cut the faux leather mat first.
I use the material setting Faux Leather (Paper Thin). You can click on “Browse All Materials” to search for this setting. Type “faux leather” in the search bar and click on the magnifying glass.
Note: If you’re using a Cricut Explore Air 2, turn your dial to “Custom” so you can choose Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as the material setting. If you’re using the Cricut Joy, set the machine to cut “with a mat” and then select Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as the setting. The Joy is smart and knows it will have to cut faux leather ON a mat, so you won’t be able to choose this material setting if you didn’t choose “on a mat” as your cutting method. You won’t have a purple cutting mat, but follow the directions below using the green mat.
After you’ve selected Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as your material, choose MORE from the Pressure dropdown menu:
Now it’s time to prepare the faux leather mat for cutting.
OPTIONAL – Add Foil Iron On to the Back of the Faux Leather Before Cutting
An optional step is to add a vinyl backing to the white faux leather before cutting. This adds some structure to the gnome earrings and will help keep them from curling. It also makes these cute little earrings look more finished.
NOTE: If you want to learn more about different ways to put a backing on faux leather earrings, check out my YouTube video called What To Put On The Back of Faux Leather Earrings.
Cut a piece of foil iron-on (or the heat transfer vinyl of your choice) in a size that is just slightly smaller than your faux leather piece.
Using an Easy Press Mini or an Easy Press and a cover sheet (teflon sheet or parchment paper) press the foil iron on to the back of the faux leather. Peel the cover sheet off of the foil or vinyl and let it cool.
STEP 5 – Prepare Mats for Cutting
Place your cut piece of white faux leather pretty side down (foil side up if you put foil on the back) in the top left corner of a sticky purple cutting mat. Use your blue painter’s tape all around the faux leather with blue painter’s tape. Press the material down to your mat firmly with your hands.
Be sure your white star wheels are moved off to the side of the roller bar so they don’t mark up your faux leather.
Load the prepared mat into the Cricut by lining the mat between the mat guides and then pressing the double arrows button.
The “C” Cricut button will start to flash, indicating the machine is ready to cut. Press the C button to begin the cut.
When the cut is finished, but before you unload the mat, use a sharp tool (I’m using my weeding tool) to carefully lift the edge of the earring shapes to see if they cut all the way through. If they did, then click the double arrow button to unload the mat.
If not, just press the C button again to repeat the cut.
Remove the cut earring shapes from the purple mat and set them aside.
Return to Cricut Design Space to cut the two vinyl mats. I cut the red mat from Red glitter vinyl using the Glitter Vinyl setting and “default” cut pressure, and the pink mat from Light Pink regular heat transfer vinyl using the “Washi Sheet” setting and “default pressure.” I repeated the cut on the Glitter Vinyl mat to be sure the cut went through – the Siser glitter HTV is thicker than Cricut glitter HTV.
Weed both layers to remove the excess vinyl and set aside.
STEP 6 – Press the Vinyl onto the Faux Leather
Using an Easy Press Mini (on the lowest temperature setting) or an Easy Press (set to about 275 degrees), start with the red glitter layer and press it onto the white faux leather back. Line up the first vinyl layer on the faux leather back, and then cover your earring shapes with a cover sheet (teflon sheet or parchment paper) before pressing.
Press for 5-7 seconds, just long enough for the layer to stick down to the faux leather. Peel the cover sheet off carefully. If the vinyl lifts, carefully place the cover sheet back down and press for a few more seconds.
Layer the pink hands and nose on top of the gnome earring and repeat the pressing. Don’t forget to use the cover sheet!
Then peel the carrier sheet away carefully. Repeat with the other earring.
STEP 7 – Punch the Earring Holes
If you cut the gnome earrings pattern with the pre-made holes, you can skip to the next step. If not, use a sharp object or a 1/16″ hole punch like this hole punch or this hole punch to make the earring holes.
Punch the hole in the top of one earring, making sure the hole isn’t too close to the edge. Then use that earring as a guide to punch a matching hole in the other earring.
Almost done! Now it’s time to attach the earring hooks.
STEP 8 – Attach the Earring Hooks
To attach the earring hooks, you’ll need small jump rings, earring hooks, and two pairs of flat nose pliers.
To connect the earring hooks, you’ll first need to turn the bottom loop on the fishhook sideways so your earrings will hang correctly.
Grip the earring hook between your thumb and forefinger with one hand, and use flat nose pliers to grip the bottom earring hook loop. Twist the wrist holding the pliers firmly so the loop turns 90 degrees.
For more details on this technique, visit my post about how to make faux leather earrings hang straight here.
Once your earring hooks are turned, use your two pliers to grip each side of a jump ring. Make sure the opening of the jump ring is facing up in the 12:00 position. Then twist one wrist to open the jump ring slightly without distorting the original circle shape of the jump ring.
With the jump ring open, slide on the faux leather earring, and then add the earring hook. Be sure the hook is facing in the right direction.
Then use the second pair of pliers again to grip both sides of the jump ring and twist the jump ring closed again.
Repeat with the second earring. That’s it!
Aren’t these festive holiday gnomes cute? Now I want to make an emerald green pair! If you do make this project, I would love to see your Gnome earrings. Please share a photo of them in the comments, or tag me on Instagram: @amyromeucreative
AND if you love gnomes, you’ll want to check out some more great FREE gnome projects from some of my best crafty friends!
From left to right, top to bottom:
Gnome Pop-Up Card from Lucy Foxworth of Paper Glitter Glue
Gnome Earrings (mine!)
Naughty Gnome Tags from Jennifer Stahr of My Scrap Menagerie
Gnome Christmas Ornaments from Emily Minor of MinorDIY
Gnome Gift Tags from Jennifer Swift of Well Crafted Studio
Christmas Snowglobe Layered Ornament by Maggie Klassens of Maggie Rose Design Co.
Want to see all of my Cricut earring & jewelry tutorials? CLICK HERE
WANT THE SVG FILE SO YOU MAKE THESE CHRISTMAS GNOME EARRINGS YOURSELF?
You can get it from my FREE Resource Library by filling out the form below!
NOTE: This design is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. If you’d like to sell earrings made from my Christmas Gnome Earrings SVG template, you may purchase a Commercial Use License from my shop here.
I kept trying to watch the video here (on your blog) so I could get the 5 entries but I couldn’t get it to load. I ended up going to YouTube.
Hi, Gaynor – Thanks for your comment. I’m sorry about that! Technology is challenging sometimes. 🙂 I’ve updated your entry count manually for you. Thank you.
Amy
Very excited to make these adorable earrings! Great video, Amy!
Thank you so much, Peggy!
OMG! This Tutorial is amazing thank you so much for doing this, I am grabbing all my supplies to make my own. Thanks a lot!!
Thank you so much, Taimara!
These are so adorable. I’m making these, the snowflakes and the gingerbread men larger as ornaments.
Love the Gnome earrings. What setting would you use for a iron or the easy press 2 ?
Hi, Linda! Thanks for your comment. I would set the Easy Press to 255-275 degrees. Go slow and check the material every few seconds so it doesn’t get too hot. The same with an iron – no steam, start out with a low setting. You can always press for a little longer if necessary. Thank you. Amy
Thank you so much. I cant wait to try this. Need to get my supplies.
Super cute earrings, Amy! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much, Terri! I’m so glad you like them! 🙂
These earrings are very cute. I am planning on making these and the gingerbread men earrings. Thank you for these earing classes.
Thanks can’t wait to try them.
Hi, Irene! Thank you so much for your comment. I’m so glad you like this project. 🙂
Those are so cute, I can’t wait to make them for my daughter for Christmas! Great job on the video. Thanks
Thank you so much, Suzette! I’m so glad you like them! You have a beautiful name, by the way! My cousin’s name is Suzette, too. 🙂
These earrings are very cute. I am planning on making these and the gingerbread men earrings. Thank you for these earing classes.
Does anyone else have a problem turning the fish hook ring and it snaps off??
Hi, Lisa! Sometimes that happens when the fish hooks aren’t great quality and the wire is thin. Other times, it happens when the earring hook isn’t being held firmly between your thumb and forefinger when turning the loop with pliers. I find that holding as much of the earring hook as possible between my fingers helps to keep the entire hook steady and protects it from breakage. I hope that helps! Amy
Thank you! These were so fun to make and really cute!
Thank you, I can’t wait to make these with my granddaughters
Thank you so much, Jane! I hope you and your granddaughters enjoy this project! My daughter (9) loves hers!
Your stuff is so cute and you make it look so easy! I can’t wait to try making these. I was wondering if you could provide a list of materials for all of your upcoming projects. I would like to just order everything at one time and then be ready to go as I watch the videos.
Hi, Pamela! I love that idea. I’m so sorry, I don’t have that information ahead of time this year, but now that I know that’s something people want, I’ll be sure to have that set up and ready in advance for next time. Thank you.
Best regards,
Amy
This are super cute. I made your snowflake and gingerbread earrings already. Love all your designs. You are so talented to come up with all this. I’m fairly new to cricut and your designs were the first ones I attempted. THANKS and keep up the great work.
I did it – I made them! I used red holographic iron on vinyl since I didn’t have glitter and think it turned out cute. My nose/hands are a bit dark, but oh well… I LOVE GNOMES!!! I tried to copy and paste a picture here, but that doesn’t work – don’t know how to get a picture on here. But thanks!
That’s wonderful, Katherine! I’m so happy you tried this project!
Amy…so excited to make these little gnomes. I went and bought all of the material this morning but for some reason I cannot download your svg file. Can you help me?
[email protected]
Thank you for all of your tutorials!
Hi, Debbie! Can you tell me more about why you can’t download the files? If you aren’t seeing the files in the library, you may need to refresh or reload the library page a few times. If that doesn’t work, try logging in from a different device or browser. If you continue to have trouble, please email me at [email protected] so I can assist you further. Thank you.
I can’t seem to find the svg for the gnome earrings. When I go into the resource library the files start at #151. I love these and would like to make them. Thank you so very much.
Hi, Pam. The files are in my library, I promise! You may need to refresh or reload the library page a few times. If that doesn’t work, try logging in from a different device or browser. If you continue to have trouble, please email me at [email protected] so I can assist you further. Thank you.
I have registered on your site. I have gotten the password.
I have gone to your library. I have searched for #154 and gnome, However I can NOT seem to get the svg file for the gnome christmas earrings.
Hi, Linda. The gnome files are in my library, I promise! I am putting all of my 10 Days of Crafting files inside my library each day just before 9am EST. You may need to refresh or reload the library page a few times. If that doesn’t work, try logging in from a different device or browser. If you continue to have trouble, please email me at [email protected] so I can assist you further. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the video! I gave up trying to cut faux leather to make earrings and was getting ready to give away my supplies and tools. Although the iron on foil was sold out on Amazon, I was able to find some at JoAnn’s. Tomorrow, I should be wearing my new elf earrings! Then, on to your class from the Holiday Maker Fest.
I appreciate your help!
Hi Amy. I was wondering if you could make these without the iron-on portion? I haven’t ventured into the easy press area of crafting yet.
Thank you for the detailed instructions!
I am very excited to make these earrings. I have a cutting machine on my Christmas wish list for Santa. I have been leaning towards a Silhouette Cameo, but it would be nice to win a Cricut Maker! These are so cute. I can’t wait to make these for my sister. She is all about gnomes this season.
These are so cute! thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Darcie! So glad you like this project. 🙂
Oh I have been waiting for these! Was so busy at work yesterday, just getting to the download!! Thank you!!
Yay, Tracy! It’s my pleasure. 🙂
Thank you so much for these!! They are so adorable! I am so excited about all you cute videos. Now I can play catch up on them I got behind yesterday due to work. Hope you have a blessed day.
For the pink hands htv you said to use washi tape setting. It didn’t go through for me. I would’ve thought you would use everyday iron on setting. What am I doing wrong>
Hi, Sherry! I use the Washi Sheet setting with Siser Easyweed a lot and it works well for me. You could certainly use Everyday Iron On, or Vinyl. Whatever works for you! Thank you. Amy