Halloween Craft: “Mellocreme” Pumpkin Earrings

Mmmmm, mellowcreme pumpkins, the yummy little sugar bombs that are really just candy corn kicked up a notch!  In homage to these tasty Halloween treats, how about a fun, easy craft that is cheap and makes enough to share with your friends?

I made the cute pumpkin earrings for a Halloween swap I was recently participated in.  You can make one pair or several!

Mellocreme Pumpkin Earrings
by Jennifer Ofenstein
(makes 10 -12 pair)

• 1 block orange polymer clay
• small amount green polymer clay
• toothpick or skewer
• hook ear wires (aka French hooks) (2 for each pair)
• eyepins (2 for each pair)
• jump rings (size of your choice)
• jewelry pliers (I used one round nose and one chain nose)
• Sculpey Glaze (gloss)
• small, soft paint brush
• parchment paper
• baking sheet
• optional: business cards and decorative bags for gift giving

Separate the orange clay into enough pieces for 10 – 12 pairs of earrings.  Roll each piece into a rough ball shape.

Using the round nose pliers, twist the eye pins into a curly shape, making sure each is approximately the same length.  Make the same amount as the orange balls in the last step.

Squish the curly part of the eye pin into the orange ball.  Cover wire completely with clay, rounding with your fingers as you go.

Add a small amount of green clay, gently pressing it around the wire into a stem shape.  Make sure to leave the “eye” in the pin visible.  If necessary, use a toothpick or skewer to clean out the hole.

Use the toothpick to gently roll creases into the orange ball.

Wallah!  A tiny pumpkin!  Repeat steps for each earring.

Place earrings on parchment lined tray and bake according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Pumpkin charms, all baked.  They look a little dull, so…

Place earrings eye pin side down in Styrofoam.  Gently brush on Sculpey Glaze.  Allow to dry upside down.   Once they’re turned over, add a little more Glaze around the top if needed.

Attach the ear wire (French hook) with a jump ring and pliers.  (how to open and close a jump ring)

Repeat for each pumpkin charm.

If making enough to share with your friends, poke holes in a business card with a pin, then slide the ear wire through.  Fold the top end of the business card down and place in a cute little bag.

More Halloween Crafts from sewhooked

click on any photo to go the tutorial/pattern

How about some Halloween/spooky themed paper piecing patterns, too?!

For more free patterns, visit sewhooked.  Click on any photo to go to it’s pattern.

If you make this or any sewhooked craft, I’d love to see a photo!  Email me or add it to the Friends of sewhooked flickr group!

Happy Crafting!

also posted on craftster

and cut out + keep