I used to run a small jewelry business in high school, selling handmade pieces at craft shows and home parties. So when I opened May’s 12 Months of Martha box and discovered their new jewelry supplies, I felt instantly nostalgic. If you were at Alt this year you might have seen my party hat ring. While I haven’t turned that ring into a full tutorial yet, I wanted to bring my love of jewelry-making and party hats together here on the blog. The result: tiny party hat necklaces and earrings you can wear for birthdays—or anytime you want a little festive flair.
Supplies:
- Cone beads in a few sizes (I bought mine locally — check craft or jewelry supply stores)
- Headpins
- Small spacer beads (optional, if your headpin slips through the cone bead)
- Martha Stewart Jewelry Glaze (or a similar jewelry-grade glaze)
- Itty bitty pom poms
- Round-nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Chain, lobster clasp and jump rings (for necklaces)
- Earwires (for earrings)
If the head of your headpin is small enough to slip through the cone bead, add a small spacer bead first to hold the cone in place. Slip the spacer bead onto the headpin, then slide the cone bead over it.
Use the tip of your jewelry glaze bottle to add dots or other simple designs to the cone bead. Hold the headpin steady while you decorate, then let the glaze dry completely before continuing.
Carefully make a small hole through the center of the pom pom with a needle. Immediately after removing the needle, push the headpin through the hole so the pom pom sits on top of the cone bead.
Trim the headpin with wire cutters so about 1/2″ extends above the pom pom. Using round-nose pliers, form the remaining wire into a small loop. The loop’s base should sit just above the pom pom. Press the loop back slightly so it sits at a slight angle, which helps keep attachments secure.
For earrings, thread an earwire through the loop and gently close the loop with pliers so the earring is secure.
To make a necklace, cut your chain to the desired length. Use a jump ring to attach the lobster clasp to one end: open the jump ring slightly with pliers, thread the chain onto it, then close it. Add another jump ring to the opposite end of the chain for the clasp to hook onto. Finally, attach your party hat charm to the center of the chain with a small jump ring.
There you have it: tiny, durable party hats that won’t blow away and make great gifts for birthday honorees—or for treating yourself on any ordinary day.
All photos by Studio DIY
These tiny party hats are playful, quick to make, and customizable. They’re a fun way to celebrate someone’s special day or to add a touch of whimsy to your everyday look.
This post is part of the 12 Months of Martha program; the content and opinions are my own.