Make Crayon Earrings with a Cricut
How to Make Back to School Crayon Earrings with a Cricut
Back to school time is almost here, and my daughter asked me to make her some new cute back to school earrings. (She loved the pencil earrings I made for her last year. If you want to check them out, you can see them here.) She decided on crayon earrings for this year, and I couldn’t resist making them in several different colors!
In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how I made these crayon earrings with a Cricut and faux leather. I’ll also share my crayon earrings SVG template so you can make these yourself – it’s Design #184 in my free Resource Library. Get it free from a link in the Materials section below.
Ready? Let’s get started!
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Crayon Earrings – Materials List
- A Cricut cutting machine (or another cutting machine of your choice). I used the Cricut Maker, but you can use the Cricut Maker 3, the Explore Air 2 or Explore 3, or the Cricut Joy.
- The Cricut Maker 3 is available on Amazon here or the Cricut website here.
- The Cricut Maker is available on Amazon here or the Cricut website here.
- The Cricut Explore 3 is available on Amazon here or the Cricut website here.
- The Cricut Explore Air 2 is available on Amazon here or the Cricut website here.
- The Cricut Joy is available on Amazon here or the Cricut website here.
- Faux leather in the colors of your choice. I used colors from this assortment pack of faux leather from Amazon. You can also use colors from this smooth faux leather selection, also on Amazon.
- Heat Transfer Vinyl in Black. I used Siser Easyweed but you can use Cricut brand or any HTV you prefer.
- 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. This is just regular painter’s tape from the hardware store, or you can get it on Amazon here.
- Art Glitter Glue. I like this bottle with the ultra fine metal tip.
- 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.
- Small scissors. These Fiskars 4″ curved scissors are my favorite.
- A small hole punch (for punching earring holes if the holes didn’t cut all the way through). This is my favorite earring hole punch from Amazon.
- Earring hooks – I used these silver tone shepherd’s hooks from Amazon here.
- Small jump rings – I used jump rings from this assortment of 6mm size jump rings in different metal finishes from Amazon here.
- Two pairs of flat nose pliers – My favorites are Wubbers brand in the “Baby” size. The pliers I use daily are the Baby Wubbers Chain Nose Pliers and the Baby Wubbers Flat Nose Pliers.
The SVG file template for these Crayon earrings. It’s Design #184 in my FREE resource library. You can get the password and the link to the library instantly by filling out the form below, or the form towards the bottom of this post.
Crayon Earrings – PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1 – Download the SVG Cut Files
Download my free Crayon Earrings SVG file (Design #184) 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
In Cricut Design Space, click on New Project, then Upload, then Browse to locate the unzipped SVG file on your device. Click on it to select it and upload it to Design Space. The SVG file will appear in your “Recent Uploads” row. Click on it to highlight it, then click INSERT IMAGES.
If you need help uploading a file to Cricut Design Space, click here.
The crayon earrings SVG should look like this on your canvas. Each crayon has a front and a back.
Sometimes SVGs come into Cricut Design Space at the wrong size. If that’s the case, change the height of the design to 2.05 inches. Be sure the width and height on the menu bar are “locked” before changing the height.
This design will cut on 2 different mats – one faux leather mat and one heat transfer vinyl mat.
Click the MAKE IT button to continue.
STEP 3 – Make Material Selections
You’ll see the two mats in the mat preview screen. Drag the crayon shapes apart slightly. Make a note of what size faux leather piece you’ll need to put on the mat so the shapes cut correctly (see the red border below).
It is not necessary to mirror any of the mats.
Select the crayon mat and click CONTINUE.
I use the material setting Faux Leather (Paper Thin) when cutting faux leather with my Cricut. I use the standard fine point blade that comes with the Cricut Maker and the Explore Air 2.
To find this Faux Leather material setting in Cricut Design Space, 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. Use the green Joy sized mat.
After you’ve selected Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as your material, choose MORE from the Pressure dropdown menu.
STEP 4 – Cut Faux Leather Mat
Cut a piece of faux leather to the size noted in the mat preview. Place it pretty side down on a sticky purple cutting mat in the location shown in the mat preview screen.
Use blue painter’s tape to tape the faux leather down to the mat on all sides.
NOTE: Gently push your white star wheels on the roller bar off to the side so they don’t roll over the faux leather while cutting.
Load the taped mat into the Cricut by aligning 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 they didn’t, just press the C button again to repeat the cut. You can repeat the cut as many times as necessary as long as you haven’t unloaded the mat.
Once the cut is complete, remove the cut earring shapes from the cutting mat.
If there are any fuzzies on the back of your crayon shapes, trim them with small curved scissors like these.
STEP 5 – Cut the Vinyl Mat
Return to Cricut Design Space to cut the black vinyl mat using the green standard grip cutting mat. Vinyl goes shiny side down on the mat.
For regular heat transfer vinyl like this, I cut with the “Washi Sheet” setting and “Default” pressure. Again repeat the cut one time as needed.
Cut and weed the black vinyl and set aside.
STEP 6 – Press the Vinyl onto the Faux Leather
Now to press the stripes onto the crayon earrings.
Line up the vinyl layer on top of one crayon layer.
Cover with a Teflon sheet or cover sheet like parchment paper (not wax paper).
I use an Easy Press Mini (on the lowest temperature setting) to press earrings. You can also use a regular Easy Press or even an iron, on a low setting, NO steam. I recommend 275 degrees for an Easy Press.
Whatever you are using to press, you want to make sure you aren’t pressing too hard or for too long so you don’t flatten or damage the faux leather.
Gently 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. Peel the clear cover sheet and discard.
Repeat with the second crayon earring.
STEP 7 – Glue Crayon Earrings
Glue the front crayon shape to the back crayon shape.
I use Art Glitter Glue for gluing faux leather layers. It’s thin, spreads easily, and has a precision tip which is perfect for applying glue to small areas. (Don’t worry, it doesn’t have glitter in it.)
Spread a light amount of glue on the back of one crayon shape. Then line up the other shape and press down with your fingers. Try to line up the earring holes. If not, don’t worry, you can punch the holes in the next step.
IMPORTANT! Press the glued earring shapes under something heavy like a book for several hours, overnight is best. This is the KEY to getting the glue to really hold the two layers together and make your earrings as flat and seamless as possible.
STEP 8 – Punch Holes (if necessary)
Once your earrings are dry, use a sharp tool to open the earring holes cut by the Cricut.
If your earring holes didn’t cut all the way through, or they don’t line up, you can use a sharp object or a 1/16″ hole punch like this hole punch or this hole punch to make the earring holes.
Now it’s time to attach the earring hooks.
STEP 9 – Attach the Earring Hooks
To attach the earring hooks, you’ll need 2 6mm 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.
For more details on this technique, visit my post about how to make faux leather earrings hang straight here. Or you can watch this video on YouTube:
After you’ve turned your earring hook loops, add the earring hook. Be sure the hook is facing in the right direction.
Close the jump ring again and repeat with the second earring. That’s it!
Aren’t these crayon earrings cute? Perfect for back to school or a teacher gift.
If you do make this project, I would love to see your crayon earrings. Please share a photo of them in the comments, or tag me on Instagram: @amyromeucrafts
Want to see all of my Cricut earring & jewelry tutorials? CLICK HERE
WANT THE SVG FILE SO YOU MAKE THESE CRICUT CRAYON EARRINGS YOURSELF?
It’s Design #184 in my FREE Resource Library. Get instant access by filling out the form below!
Want to remember this? Post this CRAYON EARRINGS project to your favorite Pinterest board!
