Laser Cut Earrings

Have you ever bought a pair of beautiful dangling earrings with excitement? But then you get home and put them in and find they are so heavy they hurt? Well, now you can laser cut your own unique earrings that are both light and stylish. Laser cut earrings are the perfect solution!

All you need is:

• A laser cutter
• Thin Wood (about 1/8" thick), cut to fit in your laser cutter
• Earring Hooks
• Jump Rings
• Needle Nose Pliers

Step 1: Make Your Design

Make a 2d design in a program that will be compatible with your laser cutter. I use Adobe Illustrator for my designs.

A good place to start is with simple geometric designs. Play around with different shapes and sizes. Be creative, try sketching a few designs, before making the digital ones. Remember to add a hole to the top so you can attach it to a hook. If you need an example, I attached one of my CS3 Illustrator earring designs.

Step 2: Cut Your Design

Now that you have finished your design, it is time to laser cut it. Upload your design to your laser cutter and set the correct settings. For wood 1/8" thick I use: Speed = 20 to 25, Power = 70 to 75, and Corner Power = 70 to 74. When you are ready, start laser cutting!

Step 3: Add Hooks

Now your wooden earring design is all cut out. Feel free to paint them before attaching them to the earring hooks. I personally like the natural rustic look, so I just attach the hooks.

When your satisfied with how your earring looks, use needle nose pliers to open a jump ring. Thread the ring through the hole in the wooden design. Then add a hook, before closing the ring.

That's all there is to it! Enjoy the dangle and light feel of your new earrings!