Can You Use Lapel Pins as Earrings? Here's the Answer!

You can repurpose your favorite pair of enamel lapel pins by turning them into cool earrings.

Can you use lapel pins as earrings? Yes, you absolutely can! DIY jewelry is an excellent way to show your creativity and ingenuity. Using lapel pins to make your own earrings is a great way to recycle favorite pins into a new fashion statement.

The great thing about using lapel pins as earrings is that for post pins with butterfly clutches, you may not even have to do any serious work to complete the transformation. All it takes is a handful of tools that most people have sitting in their craft drawer and a little time. Then you will be able to strut around town showing off a unique set of earrings.

If you do not have two matching pins, you can use ones with related themes and wear them as fashionably asymmetrical pieces. This is a fun and easy craft that any pin lover can do. We have laid out a complete walkthrough on how to give your pins a new lease on life as gorgeous earrings.

What Tools You Need to Get Started

The tools you need will depend on what kind of backings your earrings came with, what material they are made of, and what type of earrings you would like to make (e.g., dangling vs. post). For most conversions, you will need the following tools and items.

Pair of heavy-duty wire cutters to remove the pin backing post
Jewelry file to get rid of the last remnants of the post
Superglue
Earring backing of your choice (posts work the best)

If you do not have a jewelry file, then high-grade sandpaper should do the trick. However, if you do end up using sandpaper, be careful to only use it on the area where you need the metal removed. It can be easy to accidentally rub against the enamel or sides, and this will leave marks, so sand with care.

Choosing the Right Pins

While most pins have rounded edges and stay within at least vaguely geometric shapes, there are some with jagged edges that follow the pin image. These can be uncomfortable if they poke into the skin of the ear or jaw, and they are also more likely to get caught in hair for people with longer haircuts.

The best pins for this kind of craft will have a post or magnetic backing, which are easier to remove than safety-pin or bent leg backings. You also want to make sure that you are not allergic to the metal. Even with hypoallergenic posts added, your skins will come in contact with the surface metal, so check for any reactions.

Replacing or Keeping the Backing

You might be tempted to keep the original backing if it is a post backing. However, earring posts are much thinner and longer than traditional pin posts, which means most of them will not fit into the piercing comfortably. In addition, if you are someone who has any metal allergies, you will want to use a hypoallergenic metal to ensure you do not have adverse reactions to wearing your finished earrings.

Step by Step Guide to Transforming Your Pin into an Earring

This step by step guide will explain the process of changing a post backed pin into a post backed earring. There are other pin and earring backing combinations that you may encounter, and we will talk about those briefly in a later section.

Choose your pins that you want to turn into earrings and use the wire cutters to remove the backing post. Some posts can be quite thick, so it might take more than one attempt and some wiggling.
There will be a residual stump left behind from the post, which you will need to sand or file away to make it completely smooth.
You will need premade earring backings, which can be found in the jewelry craft section of stores like Hobby Lobby or through online retailers like Amazon. They will come in various styles and sizes, so make sure the base is not too big; otherwise, it might peek over the edge of smaller pins.
Use super glue or jewelry cement to fix the earring back to the pin. Let it dry.
Once it is dry, gently test out the bond. If any edges start to peel up, carefully apply more superglue under those areas.
Remove any excess glue.

Voila! You have now turned your favorite pins into a fabulous pair of earrings to wear on your next evening out. All backings can follow the same procedure.

A Few Words on Soldering

For pins made of metal, some people who create DIY earrings use a soldering iron to connect a piece of shaped metal as a new post. This is not recommended and unnecessary because it is hard to get a custom piece the right size, and working with a soldering iron can be unsafe for inexperienced individuals. The safest and most efficient method is to use a premade earring back and bond it to the pin using a type of superglue.

Converting Other Types of Backings

There are other types of pin backings, including safety-pin, magnetic, and bent-leg. The process for changing them into earrings is basically the same as with a post. Some backings, such as magnetic ones, require a little more work since they take up a larger portion of the pin’s back surface.

Taking Care of Your New Earrings

Once you have your shiny new earrings ready to wear, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you chose to solder an earring post in place, this will not apply, but for anyone who decided to use superglue it is vital that you not put too much pressure or weight on the post as this can cause it to come loose. There will be a weak point where the glue connects the two pieces, and you want to avoid stressing that area.