These earrings for your bridesmaids boast BFF-worthy qualities (they're hip, handmade, and look expensive) -- yet they cost just a few dollars.The charming illustrations for the backing were created for us by Virginia-based illustrator Katy Jean May. If you like the style but want something different, you can commission her to draw something for you. Reach her at 215-356-9513.Ours are sized to fit into a 2-1/8- by-3-inch jewelry box. The images are designed to have the larger white space toward the bottom of the box.
Tools and MaterialsPushpin12-millimeter yellow jade beads, Acorns, 1 1/2-millimeter gold ball pin, 24-gauge fish hook earring, PDFs (Tree Card 1, Tree Card 2, Tree Card 3)Stiff paper or card stockCraft knifeMetal straightedgeSmall Japanese hole punch, 3-by-2-1/8-by-1-inch jewelry box.
Acorn Earrings How-To1. With a pushpin, poke hole through acorn cap from underneath.2. Slide bead and cap onto a jewelry finding called a head pin.3. With needle-nose pliers, make a loop just above the cap, and cut away extra wire.4. Slide a hook on.Backing How-To1. Download the PDFs (Tree Card 1, Tree Card 2, Tree Card 3), and print onto stiff paper or card stock. Use a craft knife and metal straightedge to cut between the crop marks; do not cut all the way to the edges of the paper, but leave them intact to preserve the crop marks for subsequent cuts.2. Use a small Japanese hole punch to make two holes along each branch for the earrings.From Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2009