Flip-flop earrings- teen crafting

Summertime and the liiivvving is easy…or so they say.  It’s a little warm for my tastes so I’m staying inside and whipping up some cute little flip-flop earrings, and you can too.  They are quick and easy to make and teens love them.  They are also very inexpensive.  This is a great sleepover or group craft. 

You will need:

Thick foam door hanger in desired color

Plastic lacing in matching color

Flip-flop pattern (free download)

Awl

Small scissors

Disappearing marker

Poster board

Graphite paper

Tracing paper

Jump rings, 16 and 18 gauge

Fish hook ear wires

Needle nosed pliers (two are helpful for opening and closing jump rings)

1.     Download and print out the full size pattern.

Flip-flop pattern

2.     Using the poster board and tracing paper trace and cut out the pattern.  I find it is easier to make a template and use it to trace on the foam. 

3.     Use your template and a disappearing marker (available at craft stores) to trace your pattern on the door hanger.  Carefully cut out. 

4.     Use the awl to poke holes all the way through the flip-flop at each area marked with a dot.

5.     For each flip-flop, cut a two one-inch pieces of matching plastic lacing. Use the scissors to cut a point at each end of the pieces.

6.     Add a dab of glue to the second from the top hole and insert the ends of two lacing pieces.  You can use the needle nosed pliers to pull it slightly through the bottom.  Add a bit of glue to each of the opposite end holes and insert the free ends into them. (See photo)  Let dry.

7.     Use two needle nosed pliers to open the larger of the two jump rings using a twisting motion rather than pulling apart, and insert into the top hole of the flip flop.  Close with the same twisting motion, meeting the two ends together.

8.     Open the second smaller jump ring and loop through the first one.  Add the fish hook ear wire as well making sure it is facing in he correct direction.  Close the jump ring.

9.     Snip off any extra lacing that is poking through the sole.