These festive Reindeer Earrings will add a touch of holiday magic to any outfit!
I just made some holiday earrings that are sure to "go down in history"! These adorable Reindeer Earrings are made out of wood using my the xTool S1 laser cutting machine, and couldn't be easier to make. The wood has been stained so you can see the wood grain, and the noses are covered with UV resin for a shiny finish. These earrings are the perfect accessory to wear to your holiday festivities, and would definitely be a great gift to make or sell this Christmas!
New to laser cutting? Be sure to check out how to get started with the xTool S1 Laser Machine!
The crafting possibilities are endless when it comes to using the xTool S1 laser cutting machine, and it's actually very easy to use! Once you have one of these, the hardest thing you'll have to do is decide what to make with it. If you want to learn more about how this incredible machine works, be sure to check out my complete xTool S1 review.
To make your own Reindeer Earrings, you will need these supplies:
*Save extra 15% off on xTool selected materials: AFFMTRS15
Upload the Reindeer Earrings design into xTool Creative Space. When you upload an SVG design, you need to make sure each part of the design is set for cutting, scoring, and/or engraving. For this project, everything in black needs to be set to engrave, and the green needs to be scored, and red needs to be cut. In the right menu bar, change the material setting to 3mm Basswood.
*Feel free to adjust the size of the earrings to suit your preferred earring length. The pieces I cut were about 1.5" tall.
Place a piece of 3mm basswood into the xTool S1 machine. Manually pull the laser box with your hand so that the red "+" is located on the material - it doesn't have to be centered.
In XCS, you will see "Distance (mm)" in the right menu bar. Click on the target icon to the right of that space, and the machine will automatically measure your material.
For more details on how to complete this step, be sure to check out my review of the xTool S1 Laser Machine!
Make sure that the earring design elements are within the marked bounding box in XCS, and then click the green "Process" button in the bottom right corner to proceed to cutting the project.
After removing the earring pieces from the machine, I highly recommend cleaning the soot away from around the edges of the wood using a Magic Eraser or baby wipes to prevent it from all over your hands and workspace or blending in with the paint.
Now it's time to add some color to the reindeer earring pieces. I used a light stain on the antlers and antique chalk paint wax for the head. For the noses, I painted two coats using red acrylic paint marker, but of course you can use a brush and acrylic paint. I also filled the eyes in with a black acrylic paint marker.
Next, add a small amount of adhesive to the back of the nose pieces. Carefully place the nose on top the face, aligning the edges up with the score line. Gently press them into place and allow the adhesive to set completely.
Once dry, I would recommend covering the earrings with a coat of clear sealant. This will protect the earrings and will keep them looking good as new for years to come.
To add some extra shine to Rudolph's nose, I domed the wood with UV Resin. Apply a small drop to the wood, and then drag the resin to the edges with a toothpick. Cure the resin with a UV light.
Each earring needs one jump ring and one earring hook. Open the jump rings with jewelry pliers and hook them through the top hole of each earring piece. Attach the earring hook to the ring and close it to keep in in place. Repeat the same process for the second earring, and then they are ready to wear!
There is also a stud earring option in the laser cut file download. This is a lot smaller and doesn't have a hole in the top for attaching an earring hook. Apply a small drop of adhesive to the earring post and attach it to the back of the reindeer earring piece. Allow the adhesive to dry, and add a thin layer of UV resin over the surface of the earring post to keep it in place permanently.
I just adore this set of Reindeer Earrings and think they will be so fun to sell or make as gifts for friends and family to wear throughout the holiday season. I would love to see if you make some for yourself using this tutorial. Leave me a comment, or tag a photo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! #AFMcrafts
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