How to Make DIY African Earrings With Ankh Charms in 5 Simple Steps

Tools and materials:

• Diamond and Africa wooden pieces (two of each)
• Jump rings (4 of 8mm and 2 of 4mm)
• Wire earring posts
• Earring backs
• Triangle pieces
• Ankh pieces
• Paint 
• Paintbrush
• Jewelry glue
• Sandpaper
• Jewelry pliers
• Toothpick

Before we start, I just wanted to say something about the wooden pieces. The diamond pieces that I have here were originally sold as squares, but when I bought them online, I put a note to the seller that I wanted two holes in the corners so that they would be diamonds.

Similarly, the Africa pieces had holes in different places to where I wanted, but I just drew a picture to the seller of where I wanted my hole to be positioned.

1. Paint the wooden pieces

Start by squeezing a bit of your paint out and painting your wooden pieces. You can use a regular paintbrush or a sponge brush for this. Make sure you go in the same direction when you’re painting, and also make sure you get the sides.

When you’ve finished painting, let the paint dry for 5-10 minutes. Then, paint a second coat and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Once done, flip the pieces over and repeat the process on the other sides.

Tip: Use a toothpick to help you hold down the pieces, so they’re not moving around a lot as you paint.

2. Sand down the triangles

Go ahead and grab your sandpaper. Pick up the triangle, turn it over to the back and just roughen it up a little bit. Doing this will make it easier to apply the glue.

3. Join the triangles together

Place the triangles into rows of three. Dip a toothpick into your glue and apply it to the center-top of the bottom triangle. Take your middle triangle and place it right on top so that it’s overlapping.

Add some more glue, put it in the center top of the middle triangle. Take your last triangle and place it right on top of that, so that they’re all connected.

4. Stick on the diamond pieces

Now, take your triangles, flip them over to the back, and apply some glue. Then, take some more glue and place it in the center of your diamond. Drop your triangles on top of where you put that glue.

5. Form the earrings

The first thing you want to do is take one of your 8mm jump rings and open it up with your pliers.

Place the jump ring through your Africa piece. Once that’s through, take your ankh charm and place that through the jump ring. Finally, take your diamond shape and place that through, and then you can close it up.

Next, take your other 8mm jump ring and open that up, place it through the other hole at the top of the diamond. Then, take your 4mm jump ring and put it on your larger 8mm jump ring.

After that, you want to open up the 4mm jump ring and take your wire, place it through the jump ring, close it up, and you are done.

DIY African earrings tutorial

There you have your DIY African earrings with ankh charms. For so few steps involved, we’ve created a really cute and funky accessory.

I love the contrast between the dark blue and the gold, and the little details of the overlapping triangles and the hanging ankh charms make this piece really special. I hope you’ll give it a go.