{Chevron Wooden Earrings}

Lately, I've been posting mostly home decor and decorating tutorials, but if you've followed me for a while or looked at my project gallery, you know that's not all do.  I like to make anything really.  I recently made a inexpensive, chic pair of earrings using a fun technique.

Here's the supplies you'll need if you want to make a pair:

• Two wooden discs from a craft store
• Drill and drill bit
• Wood glue
• Wood stain
• Stencil(s)
• Mod Podge (regular and Dimensional Magic)
• Four jump rings
• Two earring hooks

First, I drilled a small hole in each of the wooden discs.

Then I used my Silhouette to create some zig-zag stickers out of contact paper.  (Just use a speed of 3 and thickness of 3 when cutting contact paper.)  I placed the stickers on my wooden discs in a chevron pattern.

This is where I have the coolest little secret to tell you.  Did you know that wood that is coated in wood glue will not soak up stain?  Yep, that's right.  (I saw this tip a long time ago on HGTV or TLC or somewhere.)  So I used a foam brush to coat the top of the wood discs with wood glue.

When the glue was almost dry, I took off the stickers and threaded a bent paperclip through the discs to prepare them to dip in stain.  I used a soy based stain I bought at Joann's.  I dipped each disc in the container.

Then I used a paper towel to wipe off the excess stain.  I let the discs try completely.  Then I covered the back and sides with a layer of Mod Podge to seal them.  I lightly sanded the design side to even out some of the wood  glue and then covered it with a layer of Dimensional Magic.  (Somehow I neglected to take a picture of this step, but it's really easy to do.  Just start squeezing the bottle on a scrap piece of paper because normally a bubble is the first thing to come out, and you DON'T want bubbles.  If you happen to end up with some, you can try to use a straight pin to pop them, but it's hard to do!)  Then it was time to attach the hardware.

In order to get the earring to hang right, I had to use two jump rings.  I connected the larger jump ring to the disc, the smaller jump ring to the larger jump ring, and the earring wire to the smaller jump ring.  With these few easy steps, I now have a new pair of fashionable earrings!

I love the thick, shiny finish the Dimensional Magic gives the earrings.

They're just the right size--not too big and not too small.

These earrings will match so many outfits!  And think of all the possibilities you can create with this technique.  You could stencil a silhouette on the disc or even a damask or paisley pattern to create a totally different look.  I have a feeling I will be making more of these.  If you decide to make a pair, I'd love for you to send me a picture or a link to your post.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!