How to Make Pretty Quilled Paper Earrings

A pair of quilled paper earrings comes together from nothing more than rolled paper strips, craft glue, and two earring hooks, and once the coils are dry, they wear as easily as any lightweight statement earring. I like a warm color mix worn with a plain linen top or dress, since the layered paper coils catch light in a way beaded or wire earrings never quite do.

The technique is paper quilling: rolling narrow paper strips into coils, then pinching them into the teardrop, square, and loose-coil shapes this earring uses before gluing them into a pattern. It takes more patience than technical skill. Once you’ve made a few practice coils, plan on 45 to 60 minutes to shape and assemble a pair, and the materials cost under $5 if you’re starting from a basic quilling kit.

This is part 2 of our Paper Jewelry Capsule series, the wearable pair that follows the paper bead foundation and leads into the finishing pendant. It’s also one of our earring tutorials inside the wider Jewelry Making collection, right alongside the rest of our earring tutorials.

Quilled Paper Earrings at a Glance

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Time: 45-60 min active (plus overnight for the glue to fully cure)
• Cost: Under $5
• Ages: 10+ with adult help handling glue
• Best for: Statement earrings, quilling hobbyists, handmade gifts

What You Need to Make Quilled Paper Earrings

Materials

• Quilling paper strips: a starter multi-color pack gives you enough width and color variety to make several pairs from one box.
• Jump rings and earring hooks: a basic jewelry-finding set covers both in one purchase, you only need 2 of each for this project.

Tools

• Shaping tool (a corkboard with numbered circular slots)
• Slotted quilling tool
• Scissors
• Craft glue or white glue
• Craft pliers

Step-by-Step Instructions for Quilled Paper Earrings

Step 1: Shape the Triangular Teardrop Piece

Everything through Step 5 makes the shapes and assembles the base for one earring. You’ll repeat the whole sequence for the second one once you’ve got the pattern down.

Roll a 12 cm strip into a loose coil with the slotted quilling tool, then set it into slot 13 of the shaping tool and let it relax against the sides. Once it stops loosening, press one edge in to form a point, then press two more points on either side of it. You only need one of these per earring, it sits at the center of the pattern.

Step 2: Roll the Loose Coils and Square Shapes

Roll five 4 cm strips into loose coils on slot 6 of the shaping tool, then roll four 6 cm strips into quilled squares on slot 7. Keep the tension even as you roll so the coils relax to roughly the same size, mismatched coils are the easiest way to end up with a lopsided pattern later.

Step 3: Roll the Teardrop Shapes

Use 12 cm strips to roll five teardrop shapes on slot 13. Before moving on, lay out everything you’ve made so far and check it against this list: 5 teardrops, 5 loose coils, 4 squares, and 1 triangle. Catching a missing piece now is a lot easier than mid-assembly.

Step 4: Glue the Teardrops and Squares Into a Ring

Glue the five teardrops side by side with their points all facing the center, so they form most of a ring. Fill the one gap left in that ring with the triangle piece, point facing center as well. Then glue the four squares into the open spaces between the teardrops, lined up along their straight edges.

Tip: White glue gives you a few seconds to nudge a piece before it sets, which matters here since the pointed shapes need to line up evenly for the pattern to read as a rosette instead of a jumble.

Step 5: Fill In the Loose Coils

Glue the loose coils along the top side of the triangle piece, working outward until that side is filled. Five coils fill it exactly on most builds, but if your triangle came out slightly wider, roll one more rather than leaving a gap. Now go back and build the second earring base the same way, through Steps 1 to 5.

Step 6: Add the Hook Coil, Jump Ring, and Earring Hook

Roll a thick strip into a tight coil with a visible hole through the center, you’ll need one of these per earring. Glue it to the top of the center loose coil, but turn it 90 degrees first so its hole faces left and right instead of front and back, that’s what lets a jump ring pass through it later. Let the glue cure fully before you handle the piece again.

Once it’s dry, open a jump ring and thread it through the hole in that tight coil, then close the ring. Attach an earring hook to the jump ring and the first earring is done. Repeat both steps on the second earring base to complete the pair.

Tips for Paper Quilling Projects

• New to quilling? Start with a store-bought strip pack instead of cutting your own from sheets, it keeps every strip the same width while you’re still learning to judge tension.
• Skip hot glue on this project. It sets before you can adjust a piece, and white or craft glue gives you the few extra seconds you need to line up each shape.
• A coat of clear nail polish over the finished coils makes the earrings water-resistant enough for regular wear.
• Mix and match paper colors within the same pattern, the shapes and steps stay identical, so a second pair in a different palette takes the same amount of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular paper instead of quilling paper strips?

You can, but pre-cut quilling strips will give you a cleaner result. Quilling paper is a consistent width and light enough to coil tightly without cracking at the folds. If you cut your own from regular paper, use something lightweight like printer paper cut into narrow, even strips with a ruler, and expect the coils to be a little less uniform than pieces cut from real quilling stock.

How long does it take to make a pair of quilled paper earrings?

Plan on 45 to 60 minutes of active shaping and gluing once you’re comfortable rolling the shapes, longer on your first attempt. After that, let the glue cure overnight before you wear them, since the shapes need to be fully set before they’ll hold their form.

Are quilled paper earrings durable enough to wear regularly?

Yes, once you seal them. A coat of clear nail polish over the glued coils holds the shapes together and makes them water-resistant enough for normal wear. They’re still paper at the core though, so avoid heavy rain or submerging them, and store them somewhere they won’t get crushed.

How is this different from your paper quilled pendant tutorial?

Both projects use the same basic quilling shapes and technique. This tutorial arranges them into a small, symmetrical rosette that hangs from an earring hook, while the paper quilled pendant builds a single larger focal design meant to hang from a cord or chain. If you’ve made one, the other will feel familiar.

Can a beginner make these on their own?

The individual shapes are beginner-friendly on their own, but keeping around 30 tiny pieces symmetrical across two earrings takes patience most first-timers don’t have yet. A first quilling project goes more smoothly with something simpler, then come back to this one once rolling a tight, even coil feels automatic.

More Jewelry Making Tutorials

• How to Make Leather Earrings (Teardrop Style)
• DIY Beaded Earrings: Make Beautiful Festive Style Earrings

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