Frugal Christmas Gifts Day 15: DIY Handpainted Artisan Earrings

Welcome to Day 14 of our Frugal Christmas Gifts contest sponsored by GoldBuyersExpress.com. There is still time to enter our contest, check out this post, learn how and enter to win an $1100 diamond!

Today's entry comes from Brittany and it's looking pretty darn cool to me. I'm all about handmade or designed jewelry and this looks like it would cost a fortune but instead, it is very inexpensive. What a great gift idea for your friends this year!

Artisan Earrings

A couple of months ago my sister-in-law and I went to this great boutique where we found these beautiful colorful earrings!! We were grabbing pairs and pairs when I started looking at them more closely, and you know me, I of course said "Hey, we can make these!" And make them we did (after buying several pairs to wear until ours were finished!) My sister-in-law and I painted 15 pairs in an hour and for less than $20 for all!! They are going to be the perfect friend gifts, for not only her friends but also her teenage daughter's friends!! At close to a $1 a piece, you really can't beat them! The charms we bought at Hobby Lobby for 50% off About 1.50 for 4! The earring hooks we also found at Hobby Lobby for a couple bucks. Thanks to my beautiful sister-in-law for modeling!

On to the tutorial...

Supplies:

Foam sponges (at least 3)
Charms
Earring hooks (These are kidney shaped)
Acrylic Paint -- Enamel is great, but any acrylic will work Also if doing them all one color you can use spray paint too!
Black Acrylic Paint
A Mixing Glaze (I had the Valspar glaze ($15) on hand from furniture refinishes, but you can also find smaller versions at local craft stores)
Polyacrylic to seal <Not pictured>

Step 1: Paint acrylic paint over charm

Step 2: Apply second coat of acrylic paint -- Check the back of the charms, if paint has bubbled paint back side too!

Step 3: Let paint dry, if using enamel paint they looked great at this stage and really if you are using enamel paint you could leave them like this.

Step 4: Mix equal parts of black acrylic paint and mixing glaze

Step 5: Using a foam brush glaze mix over charms

Step 6: Using a damp paper towel carefully wipe off, wiping gently to not remove all of the black, wipe off glaze that may have puddled on back.

Step 7: Let the glaze dry, grab your sealer or polycrylic

Step 7: Brush polyacrylic over the tops

Step 8: Let dry and put them on the earring hooks

Now for the step by step pictures of our 15 pairs, we made in an hour!

The pictures below are pictures of the charms glazed and unglazed!

All done and ready to be given!

Again more modeling pictures!

Not glazed (Butterflies)

I love them all!! Do you have a favorite? They were so inexpensive, they are light weight, original and beautiful!! Thanks again to my beautiful sister in law for letting me take her picture with every color!

If you like this post, comment below! The post with the most comments will win a diamond valued at nearly $1100 from Gold Buyers Express! Be sure to check out all of our frugal Christmas Gifts!

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