How many times have you been poking around a flea market or thrift store and come across a pair of those really adorable and  unique vintage earrings from the 40s and 50s? You know the ones I mean with the clip on or screwbacks? Many of them are like tiny works of art,  with beautiful austrian crystals and brightly colored beads.  It’s a shame to have to  pass them by just because they may have broken parts or  you think they’ll be uncomfortable to wear.

Well here are a few  options for you, so you’ll never again  have to leave a pair of these beauties behind!

First of all,  there is a really simple way to loosen them so they are more comfortable.  Here is a link with easy instructions on how to adjust the clip backs on earrings.

Another thing you can do is retrofit them by removing the backs and adding posts or wires to wear them as pierced earrings.

You can find all the components you need to do this at a Michael’s craft store near you or through a company like Fire Mountain Gems. And you don’t need to be a crafting genius to do this either!

Here are a few pairs I had hanging around that I changed just yesterday.  I finally decided to do something with them because I needed a subject for a blog post!  Now I’ve got me some fabulous sparkly vintage earrings to wear.

Earring on left had broken clip. Earring on right with post added.

Use jeweler’s pliers like the ones on the right to remove the clips.  Then

jeweler's pliers

rough up the back of the earrings with some fine grit sandpaper. Even an emery board will work.  Glue on the posts and, voila, you’ve retrofitted your earrings!  It’s best to buy the earring backs with the wide plastic discs attached to hold these type of earrings onto your ear. They’re sometimes referred to as bullet clutches or comfort backs. Also, I used E6000 glue, which will join just about anything together.  If you use this stuff, just don’t go sniffing it, ok?  It could very well make you woozy and maybe even cause irreversible brain damage. I don’t know this  for sure, but that’s what my mother once told me when I said all the  other kids were doing it.

If you enjoy being in an altered state while doing you’re crafting, I suggest sticking to more acceptable forms of drug abuse, like swilling down a pitcher of margheritas or knocking back a few pints.  Just a little public service announcement from one who knows!

Now for the next nifty project I’ve removed the little dangly drops from a pair of vintage screwback earrings and added them to those earwires that look like fish hooks. I’ve shown them with two different styles. Easy, Peezy.

Screw backs on earrings replaced with fishhook ear wires.

The proper way to open a loop on any jewelry component is to twist it open to the side.  When slipping it on the appropriate finding, it will be easier to just twist it back over to close it up.

And last, but not least,  here are a pair of screwback earrings that were missing their dangly thingies. But they were perfect for making a post type earring and then adding a drop.

Screwback earrings get posts and crystal drops.

I had to snip the wire  just below the loop where the crystal drop would be

Head pins are useful for creating beaded drops for earrings.

attached. You’d use small jewelers or craft wire cutters for this.   The drops are simple to make by taking head pins (pictured right) and threading whatever combination of crystals or beads you fancy.  Trim wire, leaving enough room to form a loop with your pliers.

Well, vintage stylistas, that ends my little craft tutorial for today.  If anyone restyles any vintage earrings like this, you’re welcome send a photo. I’d be happy to post it on this blog.