Whether you make jewelry as a hobby, to sell at craft fairs or to just give as gifts to friends and family, presentation is always an issue. You wouldn’t hang up a beautiful print on the wall without a proper frame. Well, the same goes with your jewelry. It is after all wearable artwork that you have created, and it should be presented in a pretty way! I decided to try and find some DIY earring card ideas that are cute, quick and inexpensive. That way you can spend more time making the jewelry, and less time (and money) worrying about how to display it.
For this project, there are are few basic supplies needed to get started. A paper cutter makes this process much easier and faster. You can find small affordable ones at any craft store. Also, a glue stick is great for layering paper, to make thicker cards. I just use a pushpin to make my holes on the cards, though craft stores will sometimes have paper punches available specifically for creating earring cards. I have tried them, but I still prefer my pushpin. The last two items I recommend are nylon or rubber earring stoppers, to keep your earrings on the cards, and adhesive clip cards, so you can hang the earrings on display racks. The rest of the items I used I found for less than $3 at my local mega store.
Basic supplies needed. Paper cutter, glue stick, pushpin, adhesive clip cards, and nylon earring backs
Close up of the earring clip cards. Sometimes,you may need to trim the bottom. This can be done easily: just trim them with scissors.
Close up of the nylon earring backs. There are a few different styles of these available, but I like the bell shape best.
NEW ~*~ NEW ~*~ NEW ~*~ NEW ~*~ NEW
Since publishing this post in 2012, Rings & Things has introduces new earring-hole-punch tools. Appropriately named, both punches make the hole-punching task “easy”!
Easy Earring Card Leverback Punch
Easy Earring Card Double Post Punch
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Okay, so now that the basics are covered, time to have fun! Check out all the affordable ideas I came up with below!
Playing Cards
52 cards for a few bucks! And they come in so many different designs!
The classic poker card transformed! Simply adhere the clips to the back so they can hang!
I particularly like these Japanese themed playing cards paired with the Buddha Heads Earrings!
Greeting Cards
All of these cards came from packages of six or more and were less than $3. A paper cutter can transform them into functioning earring cards in no time!
Use your glue stick to glue a second neutral piece of paper to the back, creating a border. The floral card was perfect for resin flower studs and I just love how the zebra print looks with the neon pink chalcedony!
Paint Chip Samples
These offer great pops of color! Coordinate your earrings to have matching colored cards!
Total cost for paint chips, Free! At least for now, though I am sure due to Pinterest, they are disappearing more quickly from the shelves, so don’t be surprised if they start charging for them soon!
Gift Bag Tags
I found a 6-pack of these blank floral gift bag tags for $1! Check the dollar bins at your store, you never know what you might find!
Book pages
Love this look! Cut the pages vertical or horizontal and use the glue stick to adhere them to thick white construction or scrap book paper. Great for vintage looking earrings!
Maps
Buy inexpensive road maps, adhere to thick white scrapbook paper. I love this one, because you can pick out your favorite cities or coordinate your jewelry with the maps. Pair beachy earrings with maps of Hawaii of Celtic Earrings with maps of Ireland!
Well I hope I have inspired everyone to make some pretty earring cards! Please feel free to ask me any questions and add any ideas that you have for creating funky earring cards! Look forward to more blog post to help you with displaying and packaging your jewelry!
~~Tiffany
16 Comments
Oooh, like this. Very pretty. I had made some cards that were a bit like vertical versions of my business cards in that they have my name and blog address on them (assuming they’ve bought from my Etsy, they don’t need that addy). Still, this is very nice and you can always print/attach your name and/or blog/contact info to the back side of these, too. Thank you for sharing your wonderful idea.
would like to order hanging earing holder and mating tag and business card.
please you can contact me at 404-915-9621
Hi Zeria,
We do not sell business cards, but there are many online and local companies that print business cards, or you can even make your own.
We do sell adhesive earring cards (https://www.rings-things.com/Products/Earring-Display-Cards/) that you can easily stick to your own business cards, or any of Tiffany’s other card ideas.
You can call us toll free at 1-800-366-2156 (please note that as of 2020, we have reduced phone support hours), or use the above links to shop in our online store any time.
~Polly
(edited in 2020 to update links and hours)
cool..your design is very creative..i like each and every design.. so simple and so pretty .Thanks for sharing.
What great ideas! I was looking for an inexpensive way to display my earrings and these ideas definitely suit that. I will give this a try.
Thanks for sharing.
I am using versions of my business card with the self-adhesive hangers on the back, and am really happy to have found this information. But I can’t seem to find a way to store the carded earrings, between artisan/craft shows and other sales venues, in a portable container that might keep them clean, not crushed, upright if possible, and organized. I would love any ideas anyone might have.
Hi Terri,
Try an outdoor/hunting/fishing store. They have a lot of organizers of various sizes in the fishing tackle area. Sometimes you luck out and they have some the perfect size for earring cards, trading cards, etc.
If you don’t find one the first time, try again in six months — the stock changes (whether you like it or not … so if you find a good one, buy extras!).
This is just the information I needed! A push pin for the holes…perfect. I didn’t want to go out & buy a paper punch that I’d hardly ever use. Love all the ideas for materials that can be used for the cards. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this tutorial/tips!!! I was looking at a punch system on amazon.com that seemed really spiffy, but it’s $50 :(( if I was a bigger operation I would buy the punch system, but my little bedroom business bottom line can’t handle that right now. Cheers!
Jessica
SPJ Jewelry and Beads
I can’t tell you how great these ideas are. I make crocheted, beaded jewelry and figuring out display was my biggest problem. The ideas here are just charming! Also, fyi, I went to Micheals to buy an earring display card punch and it was only $10.99/ the same thing was more than double on Amazon and ebay…… it is going to work great with both my bracelet and earring creations. Will watch for more….. thanks for sharing.
Tiffany…thank you mucho. I just browsed through Etsy and forget it. I like your thoughts which opened up mah eyes. I had just learned to make earrings and been using the back of my business cards with a large safety pin, but the hole is still kinda large. They hang, but get all crooked so have been sticking a piece of scotch tape on the front to hold them steady. You can’t really see the tape, but….thanks to the other comments for their ideas.
Look me up on FB.
These are adorable 🙂
Do you know of something that will punch a hole larger than a regular hole punch at the top of the card to hang them on a display?
A regular punch makes the hole just a tad too small 🙁
Thanks
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
A regular hole punch is just right (or a tad bit too big) for our pegs … sounds like you have an unusual peg size for your display. Google the brand of your display, and the phrase “hole punch” to see if the brand of your display has a special hole punch the right size. Otherwise, check your local craft store. They sometimes have a variety of round punches, many more sizes than an office supply store. And usually cheaper too.
~Polly
What size are most of the cards you use? In particular, what size are the ones with the maps on them?
That is a great question … and I’m sorry that I can’t answer it perfectly. Tiffany moved to the other side of the state a few years ago, so I can’t snag her cards and measure them. However, the size of the cards you need depends on 2 factors:
Factor 1) the size of your earrings. Tiffany makes some pretty big earrings sometimes, so needs larger cards than most people would need. But she doesn’t use the same size all the time – so she has a mix of large and small cards.
Factor 2) Will you be selling your earrings in a gallery that uses a standard size display? If so, I have a helpful tip from our local Spokane Jeweler’s Guild. Minutia (Designs by Kris) uses a card that has a front that’s 2″ wide x 5-5/16″ tall, and this fits perfectly into most galleries that her jewelry is sold at.
~Polly
Those ideas are so creative. Thanks for sharing!