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Ombre Paint Chip Earrings & Free Cut File

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings with FREE Silhouette cut file! Such an easy, inexpensive gift idea via thinkingcloset.com

For some women, their signature fashion piece is shoes.  For others, it’s bags.  And for me, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s big n’ bold earrings.

And what do I love even more than big n’ bold earrings?  Well, big n’ bold earrings I made myself out of materials I got for free, of course!  Does it get much better than that?  I think not.

I had been inspired by the paper earrings I’ve seen around blogland for some time now, like these by crafterhours and these by Cutesy Crafts.  And then one day it struck me that paint chip swatches would be the perfect material for paper earrings.  Not only are they sturdy like cardstock and perfect for the ombre look, but they cost nothing other than the gas to drive to Home Depot.  And we’re there practically every other week anyway, so, done and done!

Here’s the easy breezy tutorial for any of you who share my affinity for big n’ bold earrings on the cheap.

Tutorial

Step 1.  Pick out various shades of your favorite paint chip swatches from your local home improvement store.  The rectangle swatches will give you the most bang for your buck freebie.

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings: the best part? The pretty ombre paint chips that cost $0.00! via thinkingcloset.com

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings: the best part? The pretty ombre paint chips that cost $0.00! via thinkingcloset.com

Then, go home and snap some photos of your paint chip swatches because let’s face it – – they’re extremely photogenic.

Step 2.  Design your earrings.  You can really use any shape at all with this design, but I decided to go with a classic circle shape, stacked in three different shades of color.

Since I have a Silhouette machine, I used my Silhouette Studio software to create my circles, each with a tiny hole punch where the jump ring will attach through.

Free Cut File

To make your lives a little easier, I’m offering up my design to you all for FREE. You can sign up to download your free cut file in either V2 or V3 format using the nifty form below or by clicking HERE. {Fine print: this design is for personal use only and is not to be used for commercial purposes. Thanks!}

FREE Silhouette Cut File for Ombre Paint Chip Earrings via thinkingcloset.com

Step 3.  Cut your paint chip circles.  I simply used the “Textured Cardstock” settings on my Silhouette machine to cut my paint chip circles.  Mine cut cleanly without any issues, but I always highly recommend that you run a test cut since all paper can cut slightly differently, especially depending on the sharpness of your blade.

For each set of earrings, you should end up with: 4 large circles, 2 medium, and 2 small.

You can use your Silhouette to cut paint chips into elements for your own Ombre Earrings! via thinkingcloset.com

If you don’t have a Silhouette machine, you can still do this project tracing circles onto the back of your paint chips and use old-fashioned scissors or an x-acto knife to cut them out.  It might even be just as fast!

Step 4.  Use adhesive spray to glue your two large circles together.  Because the back of my paint swatches had text and images on them, I glued the two large circles together, so that when the earrings flip around, they’re still a solid color.  And that’s important for this design because these earrings do have some nice movement to them.  You don’t need to worry about the medium and small circles since they’ll lie flat atop the large circles.

My spray adhesive of choice is Elmer’s Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive (affiliate link).

My adhesive of choice: Elmer's Spray Adhesive via thinkingcloset.com

Step 5.  Use pliers to attach your jewelry findings.

Tools needed to make your own Ombre Paint Chip Earrings via thinkingcloset.com

First, attach a jump-ring through the ear wire and close it up.  Then, run a second jump-ring through the set of three circles, and then through the first jump ring, making sure the ear wire is facing the right direction.  Use your pliers to close it up, and you are done!

Use pliers to attach your jewelry findings and complete your Ombre Paint Chip Earrings via thinkingcloset.com

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings with FREE Silhouette cut file! Such an easy, inexpensive gift idea via thinkingcloset.com

You can have fun repeating this process in various shades of swatches!  I was even able to get 2 sets of earrings out of just three swatches of color.

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings: Silhouette tutorial and FREE cut file via thinkingcloset.com. Such a great gift idea!

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings: Silhouette tutorial and FREE cut file via thinkingcloset.com. Such a great gift idea!

And since these earrings make great gifts, just use an extra paint swatch on which to display them.  You can just use a safety pin to create two tiny holes for the ear wires to slip through.

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings: Silhouette tutorial and FREE cut file via thinkingcloset.com. Such a great gift idea!

And here’s a little vertical pin-action for my pinner friends in the house:

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings with FREE Silhouette cut file! Such an easy, inexpensive gift idea via thinkingcloset.com

More Earring Inspiration

If you’d like to check out another fun earring tutorial, especially if Perler beads strike a nostalgic chord in you, click HERE.

Perler Bead Earrings: A 10 Minute Craft that is fun for all ages. Via The Thinking Closet.
Click HERE to check out my Perler Bead Earring Tutorial

More Paper Inspiration

Well, paper is the theme for this month’s Silhouette Challenge, which happens to be going down to-day!  So, I encourage you to hop around to visit my blog friends who are all sharing paper projects they made using their Silhouette.  You can even click the pictures on the collage below to hop from site to site.  Fancy, huh?

The Great Lamp Rescue Barnyard Animal Paper Garland & Party Details Sweet and Simple Easter Bunny Card Owl Theme Baby Shower Ombre Paint Chip Earrings & Free Cut File Spring is Blooming Drop It (Like It's Hot) Hexagon Tray Spruce Up Your RECIPE BOOK Gift Card Giving Free Cut Files Custom outlines for stamps Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Juice Boxes Wine Themed Bridal Shower Learn How To Make A Sewn Paper Garland! Moroccan Thank You Card 3D Flower Spring Wreath For the Love of Paper: Cutting Embellishments Create Your Own St. Patrick's Day Cupcake Wrappers and Toppers Swimming Word Art St. Patrick's Day Lime White Chocolate Chips Cupcakes + Freebie You're invited to a dog party! I'm so Lucky! Spring Wreath with SIlhouette Cut Flowers Tiny Princesses Paper Dolls Colorful Quote with your Silhouette Get Well Bouquet with Persimmon Roses Greeting Card Holder Baby Shower Invitations How-To Create a Custom Pillowbox on Your Silhouette Machine + Free Cut File! Quality Time Jar Matchbox Cover with {FREE CUT FILE} DIY Baby Girl Shower Invitation Candy Alphabet Travel Game Paper Garland Pretty Paper Roses DIY Geometric Heart Journal Hand Made Decorations for a Pirate Party Wedding Shower Gift Heart Map Decoupaged Letters (A scanner + A Silhouette = Spectacular results!) Easter Pop-up Box Card with Sweet Sorbet Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! Better World Greeting Cards Star Wars Silhouette Canvas Monogrammed Gifts Make Printable Gift Wrap with your Silhouette Software Free Printable: Blank Banner with free Silhouette Cut File

1. McCall Manor // 2. The Turquoise Home // 3. Creative Savings // 4. Sandpaper and Glue // 5. The Thinking Closet // 6. Sowdering About in Seattle // 7. Persia Lou // 8. From Wine to Whine // 9. Dream a Little Bigger // 10. Please Excuse My Craftermath… // 11. Play. Party. Pin. // 12. Everyday Paper // 13. Practically Functional // 14. A Tossed Salad Life // 15. My Favorite Finds // 16. The House on Hillbrook // 17. Adventures in All Things Food // 18. A Glimpse Into Barb’s Life // 19. TitiCrafty // 20. The Experimental Home // 21. feto soap blog // 22. Creative Ramblings // 23. The Stamp Doc // 24. Ginger Snap Crafts // 25. Simply Kelly Designs // 26. Whats Next Ma // 27. unOriginal Mom // 28. Bringing Creativity 2 Life // 29. Cutesy Crafts // 30. My Paper Craze // 31. Create & Babble // 32. Grey Luster Girl // 33. The Sensory Emporium // 34. Lil’ Mrs. Tori // 35. Black and White Obsession // 36. Mama Sonshine // 37. Weekend Craft // 38. Creative Carnival // 39. Peace, Love and Joyce // 40. Tried & True // 41. The Frill of Life // 42. Dragonfly & Lily Pads // 43. Get Silvered // 44. Minted Strawberry

Enjoy!

This is Lauren, signing off.

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58 Comments

  1. Now I can make some earrings so that I match our new kitchen! Since I don’t have a silhouette yet, was thinking I could use a quarter, nickel, and dime to make the hand-drawn circles on the back of the paint chips. Do you think those would be good sizes?
    Our new kitchen colors are Benjamin Moore, cream, barley, and gold leaf!
    I agree, these are too cute!

    1. Oh yay! Taunya, you’ll have SO much fun making them and even more fun ROCKING them knowing how easy and inexpensive they were. If you end up making some and think to snap a picture, I’d love for you to send it to me! One of my favorite things in the world is putting together my quarterly Reader Showcase post, and I’d love to include you and your photo in it! Here’s my email: thethinkingcloset {at} gmail.com. Take care!

    1. It’s true, it’s true, Danielle! I had grand plans to do a rectangle version (with one end cut at a diagonal) and a diamond version, but alas, life got away from me (as it is apt to do). But as soon as I gift these sets away, I’ll have to try some new ones!

    1. Thanks so much, Kimberly! Hope you can get your hands on a digital craft cutter soon…you’re going to have a field day, I know it!

  2. These are really cute. Sadly in the UK are paint samples are all very thin and meanly sized, and they will keep printing the company name and the name of the colour all over them – it’s like they don’t realise people what them for craft purposes! I’m a little jealous of those useful looking multi coloured rectangles you have there.
    Also sadly I am a silhouette machine free zone, but I do have some lovely circle punches I was given for Christmas that might work for this, got to be resourceful!

    1. Bummer that your paint samples aren’t craft-worthy, Julie! And circle punches would work perfectly for this project…we’ve just got to brainstorm how you can get your hands on some fun, FREE, colorful paper. I wonder if any companies will send paint samples to the UK via snail mail? Might be worth a shot!

      1. Good idea, be worth an email at least, wouldn’t it? Our paint samples are the long thin ones with 5 or 6 colours in a line. They are useable for crafts as long as you don’t want anything bigger than about 2cm x 3cm! I do save all coloured envelopes that come through the door, they are a pretty good free source of coloured paper, but sometimes I want card (I suppose I could go to the shops and buy some as a last resort!)
        For now I will just try to be happy for my US bloggy friends!

    1. Karen, if you were a student in my English class, I’d congratulate you for your successful employment of vivid imagery! Instead, I’ll just send you a big thanks for your delightful and encouraging comment. Hugs!

    1. Wow! Thanks so much, Krista! That means a lot coming from a DIYer as talented as you, my dear. P.S. I hear you’re coming to Haven this summer. Eeeeeeek! I cannot wait to meet you face-to-face!

    1. I love how yours turned out, Aki! And that you worked 4 different colors into the mix. Yes, such a fun and easy project. (I need more of those. I’m always over-complicating things. Lol!)

  3. These came out really great Lauren! You truly are the queen of earrings. I have to admit, I’ve been becoming addicted to them myself as of late. And your’e not helping that addiction! 😉

    1. Ha ha. How didn’t you think of it? Well, you’re too busy creating yummy-licious cupcakes and adorable St. Paddy’s day wrappers, that’s why! 😉 Hugs and kisses back at you!

  4. I’m also a lover of big and bold earrings. It’s my thang! So, of course, I LOVE this idea. And I have tons of paint swatches. I’m just going to have to try it, I think. Thanks for the free cut file, my friend!

    1. Sweet! I do hope you get to use the cut file, Laura. I could totally see you rockin’ the ombre earring look like a boss! (And I LOVE that you already have the paint swatches on hand. You’re my hero.)

    1. Welcome to the Earrings Girl Club! (It’s a happenin’ place to be, let me tell ya. Tee hee.) And thanks for inspiring so much with your chipboard earring tutorial last spring. Ever since then, I’ve been determined to make some paper earrings of my own…and with this month’s Challenge, the timing was too perfect. Also, thanks for being Challenge Coordinator extraordinaire. You’re zee best, Jessica!

    1. Thanks, girl. And yes, I totally agree: paint chips are SO much fun to craft with. I’ve actually been waiting for the perfect excuse to incorporate them into a project for some time now…and well, the Silhouette Challenge paper theme was just too perfect! 😉

  5. Hi Lauren,

    I’m with you, I LOVE big, bold earrings! But unlike you, I would have never thought about making earrings from paint chips!!! You are so creative. I definitely have to stop at Lowe’s soon! I’m so excited to be a part of this incredibly talented Silhouette Challenge group.

    Peace, Love and Joy,
    Joyce

  6. I knew the minute I saw those cute earrings, that you must have come up with them!! They are ROCKIN’! I have several paint chips that I have collected. Now it’s time to make some of your earrings!! Thanks for the free file. ♥

  7. Super cute!!! I might just have to make some as gifts… I couldn’t wear them because I forget about my jewelry when I get in the shower… I don’t think they would make it! 🙂 Thanks for inviting me to join the Silhouette challenge group… I am loving my first challenge!

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