Can You Use Lapel Pins as Earrings?

You may turn your favorite set of enamel lapel pins into attractive earrings by repurposing them.

Can lapel pins be worn as earrings? Yes, you certainly can! DIY jewelry is a great way to express your creativity and resourcefulness. Making earrings out of lapel pins is a terrific way to repurpose old pins into a fresh fashion statement.

The beauty of utilizing lapel pins as earrings is that for post pins with butterfly clutches, you may not even need to perform any major labor to accomplish the transformation. It only needs a few tools that most people have in their craft cabinet and a little time. Then you'll be able to walk around town wearing a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings.

Related Knowledge: Benefits of Backstamping Your Lapel Pins

If you don't have two matching pins, use ones with similar themes and wear them as stylishly asymmetrical pieces. This is a simple and enjoyable craft that any pin enthusiast can complete. We've laid out a step-by-step guide for transforming your pins into stunning earrings.

What You'll Need to Get Started

The tools you'll need will vary depending on the type of backings your earrings have, the material they're made of, and the type of earrings you want to make (e.g., dangling vs. post). The following tools and items are required for the majority of conversions.

Heavy-duty wire cutters to remove the pin backing post Jewelry file to remove any remaining post remnants Superglue

Your choice of earring backing (posts work best)

If you don't have a jewelry file, high-grade sandpaper should suffice. If you must use sandpaper, make sure to only use it in the area where the metal needs to be removed. Sand with caution because it is easy to accidentally rub against the enamel or sides, leaving marks.

Selecting the Best Pins

While the majority of pins have rounded edges and follow at least vaguely geometric shapes, some have jagged edges that follow the pin image. These can be irritating if they poke into the skin of the ear or jaw, and they are also more likely to become entangled in hair for people with longer hair.

The best pins for this type of craft will have a post or magnetic backing that is easier to remove than a safety pin or bent leg backing. You should also ensure that you are not allergic to the metal. Even if you use hypoallergenic posts, your skin will come into contact with the surface metal, so keep an eye out for any reactions.

Changing or Leaving the Backing

If it is a post-backing, you may be tempted to maintain the original backing. Earring posts, on the other hand, are significantly thinner and longer than standard pin posts, therefore the majority of them will not fit properly into the piercing. Furthermore, if you have any metal allergies, you should select a hypoallergenic metal to ensure that you do not have any unpleasant reactions to wearing your final earrings.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Converting Your Pin into an Earring

This step-by-step tutorial will walk you through the process of converting a post-backed pin into a post-backed earring. Other pin and earring backing combinations may be encountered, and we will discuss them briefly in a later section.

Choose the pins you wish to transform into earrings and remove the backing post with wire cutters. Because some posts are rather thick, it may take more than one attempt and considerable wriggling.

The post will leave a remnant stump, which you will need to sand or file away to make it perfectly smooth.

Premade earring backings are required, which can be obtained in the jewelry craft area of stores such as Hobby Lobby or through internet vendors such as Amazon. They will be available in a variety of designs and sizes, so make sure the base is not too large; otherwise, it may protrude over the edge of smaller pins.

To reattach the earring to the pin, use super glue or jewelry cement. Allow it to dry.

After it has dried, gently test the bond. If any of the edges begin to pull up, carefully apply more superglue to those places.

Get rid of any excess glue.

Voila! You've now transformed your favorite pins into a stunning pair of earrings to wear on your next night out. The same process can be used for all backings.

Some Thoughts on Soldering

Some DIY earrings makers use a soldering iron to join a piece of shaped metal as a new post to metal pins. This is not advised and is unneeded because it is difficult to obtain a custom component that is the correct size, and working with a soldering iron can be dangerous for untrained users. The most secure and efficient approach is to utilize a readymade earring back and connect it to the pin with super glue.

Other Types of Backings Conversion

Other pin backings include safety pins, magnetic pins, and bent-leg pins. The procedure for converting them to earrings is the same as with a post. Some backings, such as magnetic ones, necessitate a little more effort because they cover a bigger percentage of the rear surface of the pin.

How to Take Care of Your New Earrings

There are a few things to consider after you have your new earrings ready to wear. This does not apply if you solder an earring post in place, but if you use superglue, you mustn't put too much pressure or weight on the post as this can cause it to come loose. There will be a weak region where the glue unites the two sections, which you should avoid pressing. Click here for Popular Enamel Lapel Pin for Souvenir.