Faux leather earrings are super popular these days. I happen to have some genuine leather samples and decided to up-cycle those samples instead of buying faux leather.
Leather earrings are so versatile and make the perfect handmade gift for a girlfriend or family member. By themselves, they add a rustic touch to any outfit. Add a little metallic accent and they are all of the sudden super glam.
Joanna Gaines made them super popular when she wore them on her show Fixer Upper a while back. With a cutting machine like the Cricut, you can make more intricate cut designs that would be difficult to do otherwise by hand.
There are tons of those bulk back earring SVG templates available for sale but I think a bunch of them are geared towards laser cutters. Laser cutters are way more expensive but can handle precise intricate cuts with difficult material.
While cutting machines like the Cricut and Silhouette do an amazing job automating cuts, they don’t quite perform at the same level as a laser cutter.
I had to go through a few designs to finally get to a set that works with both genuine leather and faux leather.
I just want to share a few tips I learned making these earrings.
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Recommended Materials for DIY Cricut Leather Earrings
Leather – I love the idea of reusing stuff I have around the house I don’t need anymore. This included the leather sofa samples. However, there are so many beautiful faux leather sheets out there now. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Cricut Faux Leather Sampler: while they are the most expensive, they are the easiest to cut with just a fine point blade.
- Full assorted set from Amazon
- Metallic and Pastel assorted set from Amazon
- Metallic Pastels set from Amazon
Vinyl, contact paper or transfer tape – You will need something on the backside of the leather so you don’t ruin your mat. I used the gold sheet from an assortment pack of vinyl I already had. I also used transfer tape.
Earring Making Kit – I like the kits because they have everything from pliers to jump rings to hooks in every shade.
Cutting Machine – I use a Cricut. Check out my recommendations for Cricut machines and accessories for beginners for more info.
Blades and Other Cricut Accessories – You can get away with most of the standard kit, check out my recommendations on cheaper generic versions of Cricut branded accessories.
Template – This Cricut Earrings Templates SVG set is available for free in my resource library.
How to Cut Faux Leather and Leather Earrings with the Cricut
Cutting Leather with the free earring SVG cut files
The first step is to line the back of the leather with transfer tape/contact paper/vinyl.
As I mentioned earlier, it is important to have a smooth backside of the leather so it doesn’t ruin the mat with little leather pieces.
The smooth side also grips better to the mat and makes for a better cut. I found if you use transfer tape, you can get away with just using a Standard Green Mat.
Cutting Leather with the Cricut – Use the Knife Blade.
I usually don’t like to promote too many accessories but this one is pretty necessary. Genuine leather is thicker and has more variation needs a deeper knife blade. The knife blade requires a rotary housing which is limited to the Cricut Maker.
If you only have a Cricut Explorer, you might be able to get away with a deep point blade with thinner leather but I would highly recommend using faux leather instead. The deep point blade can be used with the standard Cricut Explorer blade housing.
Cricut Settings for Leather Earrings
I use my Cricut Maker and used the Garment Leather 1.6mm setting. It was a little too deep and cut through the vinyl but anything less didn’t cut all the way through.
Cutting Faux Leather Earrings with the Cricut
If you are using faux leather and have a Cricut Maker, I would still recommend using the rotary blade. Some faux leathers are soft and stretch which tugs at the standard blades. With a rotary blade, you can get away with using a Standard Grip mat with the smooth side down.
If you are using a Cricut Explorer, I would recommend using the transfer tape method and upgrading to a Strong Grip Mat.
Use a pin if there’s not enough room for a hook hole.
Sometimes the attachment part of the earring is too narrow to cut a whole with the Cricut. In that case, just use a pin or a needle to poke a hole.
That’s it! Pretty easy stuff!
For 3 D leather designs, check out my 3D Leather Earrings for the Cricut tutorial.
Interested in more projects like this? Check out all the Accessories Projects in my Premium SVG Membership.
Faux Leather Earring SVG Free
There are so many free faux leather earring SVG templates you can use to make your DIY earrings. If you’re just getting started, I’d recommend trying a simple teardrop or rectangle shape. Then, you can try more advanced and fine-cut designs.
Making DIY earrings with your Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine is great to make gifts for friends and family. Rather than spending high prices for the latest jewelry, you can customize each piece to fit who you’re giving to. Plus, they’ll be sure to impressed with your paper cutting and design skills when they find out you made these yourself!
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