How to Reuse a Lone Earring

Last Updated: February 20, 2022

Perhaps along with the sock, the earring is one of those wearable items that frequently ends up being a loner from what was once a pair. While it may be tempting to simply toss the earring in the trash, this is a wasteful result and often a sad ending to an object you've likely really enjoyed wearing over the years. This article provides a range of suggestions for reusing that lone earring, giving it a new opportunity to be useful again. Choose among the different suggestions to rejuvenate your lone earring.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing the Lone Earring

1
Wear just the one earring.^{[1]
X
Research source} This is a recent trend in fashion that is free from "meanings" that might be attributed to single earring wearing. However, care must be taken to choose an earring that looks good on its own, so it might not be the best choice if the earring is tiny or doesn't dangle; if the earring is long and sweeps onto your shoulder, then you're good to go.^{[1]
X
Research source} It might be possible to build on your existing lone earring to make it longer and bigger; for example, you could add a hoop, feathers, a delicate chain, etc.
- Another fashion idea is to make a new pair from two odd earrings for a unique set. This requires care to match size and like type though, to avoid it being too quirky. Think flower earring with another flower earring or a sapphire earring with a diamond earring.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Reusing a Lone Earring in Art and Craft

1
Add the lone earring to an art or craft project. Such a project can be useful for both post and clip earrings. If you cannot think of any project to make immediately, at the very least add the lone earring to your craft or jewelry making supplies, for use later on. It's a good excuse to hang onto it, and you never know, the other one might even turn up in the interim. Along with more detailed suggestions following this step, some other ideas include:
- Covering a CD player, computer monitor or other electronic device with various odd earrings to form a pretty design.
- Incorporating the solo earring into a piece of artwork or sculpture; maybe it forms part of the picture or design or maybe it forms the inspiration from which new things can form.
- Use the odd earring as a decorative element on a bag or box lock, attach to a notebook or journal, or attach to drawer knobs.
- Use dangling earrings to jazz up zippers.
2
Make jewelry from the orphaned earring. If you enjoy making jewelry, there are several items you can repurpose the earring into, such as:
- Making a brooch from the earring. Break the backing or post off the earring, then glue to a brooch back. Allow to fully dry before wearing, and be sure to check that it has set in place firmly.
- Turning it into a hat pin embellishment. As with the brooch, break off the backing, then glue in place to the top of the hat pin. Allow to fully dry before using. For this idea, choose small and delicate earrings; avoid anything heavy or that dangles below the pin's length.
- Adding the brooch to a necklace, bracelet or bangle design. Thread the earring onto a necklace or glue/attach to the bracelet or bangle.
3
Turn the earring into shoe jewelry. This requires an earring that has a hook attachment and dangles a long way down. To attach it, place the hook over the back of the shoe and tape well onto the shoe on the inside. You need to use enough tape to both hold it in place and prevent the hook from rubbing on your foot.
- Use duct tape or similar strong, smooth tape.
- This is one-wear only; use it for a party or special event, then remove and add again when going to another special occasion.
4
Make hair accessories from single earrings. For earrings that you consider especially pretty, wearing them in your hair can add some sparkle or decorative interest. Here are some ways to turn solo earrings into hair accessories:
- Use a hair comb or barrette back as the base. Decide whether you'll use just a single earring or a row of odd earrings to form a pattern on the comb or barrette; if using more than one, design a pretty order for them. Remove the backs and rough parts from one or more earrings. Glue to the comb top or barrette, either in the center for a single one or a row in the order of choice. Allow the earring backs to dry fully before wearing the decorative comb or barrette in your hair.
- The same thing can also be tried with a strong, large hair elastic, by gluing a single earring to one place and allowing it to dry fully.
- Use a hair bow that has already been made. Simply glue the earring into the center of the bow as an added decoration. Once fully dried, it's ready to wear.
5
Turn the earring into a doll's item. It might be suitable for the doll to wear as a brooch or necklace, or it could be turned into a belt buckle or headband decoration for a doll. Other uses might include turning the earring into a kitchenware item, wall picture or toy in the doll house. The uses will depend on the earring style, color, shape and size; use your imagination alongside seeking for online image suggestions for doll house items.
6
Turn the sole earring into a bookmark "tassel".^{[2]
X
Research source} If the earring is the right shape, it could be stitched or glued onto the end of a ribbon or fabric bookmark, to add a special heavy end that stays outside of the book. This is both pretty and practical, as it makes it easier to locate the bookmark and while the book is sitting around, the earring dangling over the book adds a bit of style. To make the bookmark:^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Find or purchase some strong fabric, such as velvet, satin or linen. Cut into strips measuring approximately 22.5cm/9 inches in length and 5cm/2 inches across (or to the width of the ribbon clamp you have). To prevent fraying, you may need to sew the top of the bookmark (use a pretty stitch). (Or, you can use a ribbon clamp on each end of the book, remembering though that this will make the book bulge when one end sits inside of it.)
- Attach a ribbon clamp on the base of the bookmark ribbon. Fix in place with flat-nose jewelry pliers.
- Affix the orphaned earring using jump rings (again with the pliers). Done. You can now enjoy using your pretty new bookmark.
7
Make a monogrammed initial (letter) for display. This is simple to make but you'll need enough single earrings to fill the letter; if not, find some other pieces of broken jewelry to add as well. If you want to make a whole name or word, you'll need a lot of orphaned earrings or other broken jewelry pieces. To make this:
- Find a wooden initial at a craft store. This can be the initial of your first name or that of a family member or friend. The size of the letter is up to your needs; think about the end use, from adding to a small box as an embellishment, to placing on a bookshelf as a display item, the size will depend on this.
- Prepare the initial. Paint it in a color of choice, using acrylic or similar paint. Match the color to the earrings being used or to the decor you'll display the end product in. Good colors include black, white and beige, as these colors will not overwhelm the earrings. Allow to dry completely before affixing the earrings.
- Prepare the earrings. Remove their backings and any unwanted parts. Arrange in a design to see what looks best on the initial; take a digital photo of this to guide you or sketch it; if you have a good memory of where each piece goes, rely on that instead.
- Glue the earring pieces onto the painted letter in the desired order. Allow to completely dry.
- Done. The bejeweled initial is now ready for display or adding to an object of your choice.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Reusing a Lone Earring in the Household

1
Use as a pin to keep papers and photos in place on a board.^{[3]
X
Research source} If the earring is a post and stud type, it can be used as a pretty pin on a pin-board or cork-board. Check that the board is thick enough to accept the pin when pushed through, just in case it needs to be cut shorter to stop it from scratching the wall behind. If it needs shortening, use wire craft snips or tin snips to shorten it (be sure to measure first).
- To use, pull the earring off the post, push the pin into the board where you wish to hold the paper or photo in place. For even safer keeping, you can replace the earring backing to the post on the back of the board, but only if there is space and easy access to do so.
2
Turn single earrings into magnets.^{[4]
X
Research source} Dress up your refrigerator door or a magnet board with a few lone earring magnets. These are very easy to make––all you need to do is remove the backing from the lone earring and glue the earring to a small magnet. The magnets can be purchased from craft or dollar stores; choose a size that is appropriate for the lone earring.
- Try to make as many as you can for a very pretty refrigerator door.
3
Turn old earrings into a bedazzled mirror. Click on the wiki link to find wikiHow's instructions for turning your odd earrings into a beautiful mirror on the wall.