These wood Turkey Earrings are sure to be a conversation piece at your Thanksgiving dinner table!
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 Thanksgiving Turkey Earrings, you will need these supplies:
*Save extra 15% off on xTool selected materials: AFFMTRS15
Upload the Turkey 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.
Choose your favorite brown paint, stain, or use an antique chalk paint wax like I did to paint the turkey body pieces. If you're using the wax, paint a thick coat over the surface and then use a paper towel to wipe the excess away.
Use a variety of acrylic paint markers (or a brush and acrylic paint) to paint the turkey feather and beak pieces. Apply a second, or even third, coat of paint for full coverage and to ensure that they look as vibrant as possible. Just make sure to allow each coat to dry completely before adding another one on top!
Next, add a small amount of adhesive to the back of the body and beak pieces. Carefully place the body on top the base first, then place the beak on top, aligning the edges up with the score lines. 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 or UV resin. This will protect the earrings and will keep them looking good as new for years to come.
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 turkey 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!
I just adore these little Turkey Earrings and think they will be so fun to make as gifts for friends, teachers, and family to wear to their Thanksgiving festivities. 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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