Design Cute Candy Button Earrings
Design and make cute candy button style earrings using colorful polymer clay or beads, practice shaping, decorating, and attaching earring hooks with adult supervision.
About this activity
Design and make cute candy button style earrings using colorful polymer clay or beads, practice shaping, decorating, and attaching earring hooks with adult supervision.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Clear a small workspace and lay a sheet of parchment paper on the table.
- 2
Step 2
Pick two or three bright clay colors you want for your candy button earrings.
- 3
Step 3
Knead each chosen clay color until it feels soft and flexible.
- 4
Step 4
Roll one color into a flat disc about 3 to 4 millimeters thick with the rolling pin.
- 5
Step 5
Press the round cutter into the disc to cut out two matching circles and place them on the parchment.
- 6
Step 6
Pinch tiny pea-size balls from a contrasting clay color for your candy dots.
- 7
Step 7
Press the tiny balls onto each circle to make cute candy button dots.
- 8
Step 8
Use a toothpick to make a small hole near the top edge of each circle for the jump ring.
- 9
Step 9
With an adult, preheat the oven and bake the clay pieces on the baking sheet at the temperature and time recommended on the clay package.
- 10
Step 10
Let the baked candy buttons cool completely on the baking sheet before touching them.
- 11
Step 11
Use pliers to open two jump rings slightly.
- 12
Step 12
Slide each open jump ring through the hole of one candy button so you have a ring on each button.
- 13
Step 13
Thread an earring hook onto each jump ring.
- 14
Step 14
Use pliers to close both jump rings securely so the hooks are locked in place.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished candy button earrings on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you make candy button style earrings with polymer clay?
Sketch a small candy button design, condition polymer clay until soft, roll tiny discs (about 6–8 mm) and flatten. Use a toothpick or dotting tool to add dimples. Bake discs on parchment per clay package instructions, then cool. Sand lightly and add gloss varnish if desired. Attach jump rings or eye pins, then connect earring hooks with pliers. Always have an adult handle oven use and any sharp tools.
What materials do I need to make candy button earrings?
You’ll need colorful polymer clay or small beads, a rolling pin or acrylic rod, toothpicks/dotting tools, a craft knife, parchment paper and an oven for baking clay. Also get jump rings or eye pins, earring hooks (hypoallergenic if needed), small needle-nose pliers, fine sandpaper, gloss varnish, and rubbing alcohol for cleanup. Optional: tiny beads for centers and storage containers for small parts.
What ages are candy button earrings suitable for?
This craft is great for kids about 6+ with close adult supervision for cutting, small parts and oven use. Ages 8–10 can do most shaping and decorating with less help; 12+ can handle baking, attaching findings and finishing touches more independently. Avoid unsupervised use for children under 6 due to choking hazards and the need for tool and oven safety.
What safety tips should I follow when making polymer clay earrings?
Always supervise baking and use of sharp tools. Ventilate the room when curing polymer clay and bake on a dedicated tray or tile using package temperatures. Keep raw clay away from food surfaces, wash hands after handling, and avoid ingesting small pieces. Use hypoallergenic earring hooks for sensitive ears and securely close jump rings. Store pliers and small parts out of reach of young children to prevent choking.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of parchment paper, polymer clay, or jump rings if I can't find them?
Use a silicone baking mat or lightly oiled aluminum foil instead of parchment, use air-dry clay so you can skip the instruction that says 'With an adult, preheat the oven and bake the clay pieces,' and substitute small beads-plus-jewelry-thread or earring blanks if you can't find jump rings and hooks.
My candy dots keep falling off or the hole closes when I bake them — how do I fix that?
Press each pea-size ball firmly onto the circle during the 'Press the tiny balls onto each circle' step, make the toothpick hole a little larger before baking, and if the hole narrows after cooling reopen it gently with the toothpick before sliding on the jump ring.
How can I adapt the steps for different ages?
For preschoolers have an adult pre-roll or cut the discs and handle the oven and pliers while the child presses dots, for school-age kids let them knead, roll to 3–4 millimeters, cut circles and make the toothpick holes with supervision, and for tweens/teens let them work more independently and use pliers to open/close jump rings themselves.
What are some fun ways to personalize or enhance the earrings?
After the 'Let the baked candy buttons cool completely' step add a clear gloss glaze or tiny painted details with acrylic paint, marble two clay colors during kneading before rolling for mixed-color buttons, or attach matching charms or a beaded chain to the jump ring to make a set to share on DIY.org.