No Need to Pierce Your Ears Earrings - Etsy Sew Useful Contest

This is an entry for the Etsy/Instructables Sew Useful Contest
see the listing for this item at my etsy shop here.

I've created a pair of magnetic Earrings. These are perfect for those that do not have, or do not wish to have their ears pierced. They actually were inspired by my 5 year old daughter. She wanted earrings, but I didn't want her to have her ears pierced, quite yet. My compromise, magnetic earrings. I have a supply of Neodymium Rare earth magnets that I thought would work great. (read about these magnets here.) These little suckers are strong, but tiny, perfect for keeping earrings on your ears. At first, I wasn't sure if the magnets would work with an ear lobe between them. But, then I learned that they were quite effective in keeping earrings in place. It's amazing.

If my Grammy was still around, I know she would love these. She didn't have her ears pierced, but always wore those clunky clip-ons. Those were fine for her, (everything she did was great) but does anyone wear those things anymore. Why not have a pair of earrings that actually look like you have pierced ears.

These earrings are not suitable for children under 3, as they could remove them easily, on their own and could be swallowed.

Step 1: The Supplies

You just need a few items to create your own pair of magnetic no pierce earings:

I noted some sources where you can find the supplies.

- flat back beads or gems or anything else you think would
make a nice earing. (it just needs a flat back)
Gem Show Online
Dreamtime Creations

- 4 neodymium magnets 3/16" or 1/4" in diameter
KJ Magnetics
Sedona - (ebay shop)

- super glue or other strong bonding glue

- clear disk earing backs - (see photo)
Earring Doctor

- tweezers

**my photo only shows 2 magnets, while my supply list states you need 4. This is because I was unable to have more than 2 magnets together in a photo without them attracting to each other and ruining the shot.**

Step 2: Attaching Magnets to Earring Fronts

The most important thing to remember and get right when making these earrings is to note the positive and negative sides of the magnets. If you attach them so that both positive or both negative sides of the magnets are to face each other, they will not work. This will make it so they push away from each other rather than attract. You can easily determine this by putting 2 magnets together and see what sides gravitate towards each other. If you try to force the two wrong sides together they will resist, making it impossible to put them together. Try it.

In this step we will only be working with the front of the earrings, the part you want people to see when you are wearing them. It doesn't matter which side of the magnet we attach now. We will be sure to use the correct, opposite side in the next step.

1. On a flat surface lay down 2 of the magnets. Be sure to place them far enough apart from each other so that they don't attract while you are trying to glue the earing parts to them. About 4 inches should be fine.

2. Add one drop of Super Glue to each magnet. One drop should cover most of the magnet surface.

3. With tweezers or your fingers place one of the flat back gems, (or whatever you are using for your earring fronts, on each of the magnets, flat side down on the glue. Be sure to center them on the magnets as much as possible. When making adjustments, work quickly as the glue dries fast.

4. Let them dry completely. 5 minutes is more than enough.

Step 3: Attach the Magnets to the Clear Disk Backings

In this step we will attach the magnets to the clear disk earring backs.
This step can be skipped, if you would like. Alternatively, the magnets work as backings, on
their own. I have found that using the disk backings make it easier to put on and take
off the earrings. Also, there is less of chance that you will lose the earring parts.

As mentioned previously, this is the crucial step in assuring your earrings are
made correctly. You will want to figure out the correct side of the magnet to use when
we attach them to the backings. Do this by holding a finished earing front (from the
previous step) in one hand. Take a magnet in your other hand and hold it
close to the earring front in the opposite hand and release the magnet, letting it attach itself to
the magnet on the earring front. Note which side attaches itself. You will glue the earring back to the opposite side.

1. Lay the side of the magnet, that attached itself to the earring front, down on a flat
surface. The opposite side should be facing up.

2. Add one drop of Super glue to the magnet.

3. Take a clear disk earring backing and lay the flat side down onto the glued side of the
magnet. (the same way we did with the fronts in the previous step) Center it on the magnet,
working quickly before the glue dries.

4. Repeat with the other backing. Be sure to test the second magnet with the other earring
front, as it may not be attached the same way as the first one was.

5. Allow both backings to dry completely.

Step 4: The Earrings Are Ready to Wear

Your earrings are complete, and ready to wear. Put them on almost like you would any pair of earings, placing the front part on the front of your earlobe. Then take the earring back and place it behind your earlobe. It will attach itself, magnetically.

Now that you see how easy they are to make, you can have many pairs.