Introduction: Recycle Broken Hoop Earrings Into Earring Jackets!

By Beautiful You
About: One lifetime is not enough to see & learn about everything in this beautiful world God made for us; especially His crowning creation: people. Jesus came to give us life (John 3:16) and I am grateful to Him for…

Have you ever gone through your jewelry box and found some really cool treasures that you loved to death- literally? I was recently given my mom's jewelry box, and going through it, found she had her share of broken jewelry. One pair of tarnished sterling silver flowered hoops was one of the broken treasures I found. I'm too sentimental to sell them for scrap, so hmmm, what could I do to salvage a set with one missing post? I could have it repaired at the jewelers, but I don't want to part with the cash either. Wonder if I can think of something else to do with them... I know! I can make a pair of earring jackets from them! Drag out your jewelry box, and find you a pair. Let's get started!

Step 1: What You Will Need:

  • Hoop metal earrings
  • Tarnish remover, cloth or liquid (walmart)
  • A pair of stud earrings that will match the hoops
  • Safety glasses
  • small jewelry pliers
  • small jewelry wire cutters
  • dremel tool with a small drill bit just a bit larger than the posts on your stud earrings; sander attachment, and/or a polishing wheel
  • hammer
  • a small nail
  • scrap wood to protect your jewelry & your countertop

Step 2: Prepare Your Tools

Don't do like me and get in such a big hurry you don't prepare your tools with cushion to keep from marring your precious metal. Just make yourself do it the night before, hang them on an old cup and then they will be ready for you when you start working.

Step 3: Cut Off the Remaining Post

Save it with your other precious metal scraps. Pretty soon you will have a pile and you can sell the scraps! I hope you are using your safety glasses.

Step 4: Pick One End or the Other

Choose your end you are going to bend up. Use your small pliers and bend upward. It will need to be bent enough so that the studs will have room to sit in front of the bend. You can also wait to bend the ends until you've drilled the holes.

Step 5: Start a Hole

It's easier to drill metal if it has a little dimple in it. That way your drill won't skitter all over the place and drill a hole in your counter top or worse, your thigh. Try to find a straight nail, it works better lol. If your metal is thin enough, the nail will go right through and you can skip the drilling step.

Step 6: Drill a Hole

Drill in the center of the bent square, check to see if the stud fits ok. Go up on the size of the drill bit if needed. Yes you are seeing a Bible verse I had previously stamped onto a fine silver dogtag.

Step 7: Knock Off the Rough Edges Then Polish

I love my little dremel tool! Wish they came in hot pink. You are using the sanding bit first, then use a polishing wheel to smooth all rough spots including the top and back of your hole. I rounded mine off at both ends.

Step 8: Wow My New Favorite Earrings!

Clean them with the cloth or liquid depending on how much tarnish you want to remove. Change the studs to match every color of outfit you wear :) Now aren't you proud of yourself?!