Candy Cane Earrings – A Fun DIY Christmas Gift Idea

So easy to make with just a small amount of oven bake polymer. Don’t stop at just one pair, these fun Christmas Earrings make great gifts too.

I have merged my love of kitsch culture and Christmas to make mouth watering, delicious looking, candy cane dangly earrings.

They really are so simple to make. The technique I’ve used means you can whip up several in a big batch, making these candy cane earrings ideal as a handmade gift idea.

Choose any colour combination you wish. Classic red and white is always popular, but I’ve gone for an 80’s inspired fuchsia and aqua combination. After all, the 80s were all about novelty earrings.

But why limit yourself to making earrings? You can take things a step further and turn these candy canes into bracelet charms, pendants, or even Christmas tree decorations.

Kids and teens will love making these candy cane earrings for friends or teachers as Christmas gifts.

Why not gather with friends or family (in person or via Zoom), and have a little festive Christmas craft party!

You may also enjoy these handmade gift ideas:

• Terracotta Clay Essential Oil Diffuser
• Sleepy Santa Brooch
• Mid-Century Ceramic Hand Dish

Deck your Earlobes with Festive Candy Cane Earrings

Any brand of polymer clay will work fine for making these earrings, although I’d suggest not mixing different brands as they may have different baking times and instructions.

Follow the recommended baking instructions on your packet of polymer clay for best results.

You will need:

• 2 Shepherd hook earring findings
• 2 earring eye pins
• Polymer clay: 2 contrasting colours of your choice
• Knife
• Cutting board
• jewellery pliers (needle nose)

Note:

Refer to the cylinder layout for Steps 1-3

How to make polymer clay candy cane earrings:

1. Roll a cylinder of polymer clay with a diameter of 15 mm.

2. Roll two cylinders of polymer clay in each colour with a diameter of 10 mm. Press these cylinders to the first, larger cylinder, directly across from each other.

3. Roll four cylinders of polymer clay in each colour with a diameter of 6mm. Press these cylinders in alternating colour around the first, largest cylinder.

4. Squeeze the roll, pressing the smaller cylinders in toward the middle cylinder.

5. Hand roll the contrasting colour cylinder. As you roll the cylinder it narrows and gets longer.

6. Chop the cylinder in half. Continue rolling one of the halves and making it longer and thinner. Stop rolling when the cylinder has a 6 mm diameter. Chop the cylinder again, creating two lengths.

7. Twist one of the cylinders. Repeat with the second cylinder.

8. Curve one end of each cylinder to make a cane head.

9. Cut off the cylinder bottoms if you wish to create shorter candy canes.

10. Twist the screw hook into the top of each candy cane.

11. Bake the candy canes in the oven 130o Celsius for 15 minutes (or according to the polymer clay brand instructions). Set aside the candy canes and allow them to cool down.

12. Using pliers, gently pry open the earring loop. Hook the candy cane and earring loops together. Using pliers, gently close the earring loop.

Now your sweet candy cane earrings are ready to wear!