Dana June 23, 2025

DIY Guide: How to Make Sublimated Wooden Earrings
Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beautiful and Easy to make wooden earrings!

Are you looking for a fun and creative way to design your own jewelry? Sublimated wooden earrings are an easy and unique way to create custom designs for gifts, craft fairs, or your own wardrobe. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your own sublimated wooden earrings using a heat press and sublimation printer. These are my best-selling items at craft fairs and my go-to for birthday gifts for friends!

🎨 What You’ll Need:

🖌 Step 1: Create or Download Your Design

Use design software or grab a sublimation PNG from sites like Etsy or Creative Fabrica. Make sure your image is high-resolution and sized to fit your earring blanks. If you’re using teardrop earrings, aim for around 1.5–2 inches high.

When I make mine, I often will create mine and then upload into MS Word. I put several on the page to help not waste paper.

One thing I do to ensure I have the right size is to print it out on a regular printer first. Then I can check the sizing. Every earring blank is always a little different. So, check your sizes before you print these out. Copy paper is way cheaper than sublimation paper.

The designer that I used for these is from a fellow creator! I love her work! Here is the link to her design. – https://www.etsy.com/listing/1597439600/baseball-teardrop-earrings-png?ga_search_query=baseball%2Bearrings&ref=shop_items_search_5&pro=1&logging_key=ee5ab72c5e9d47fd8bfc492520ce9830a8a2f8cf%3A1597439600

Or to purchase this done for you- send me a message and I can create this for you!

👉 Pro Tip: Mirror your design before printing so it appears correctly on the earrings after sublimation. You always have to mirror these!

🖨 Step 2: Print Your Design

Print your mirrored design onto sublimation paper using a sublimation printer. Let the ink dry for a few minutes to avoid smudging.

🔥 Step 3: Prep Your Blanks

  • If your wooden blanks are double-sided, decide whether you’ll sublimate one or both sides. (I always do both sides on mine.)
  • Clean the surface with a lint-free cloth to remove dust or oils.

🖼 Step 4: Line It Up and Tape It Down

Place your design face down onto the wood blank and tape it securely using heat-resistant tape. Make sure it’s tight and flat with no wrinkles or bubbles.

💨 Step 5: Time to Press

Set your heat press to 385°F (or follow the recommended temp for your blanks) and press for 60 seconds with medium pressure. Use parchment paper above and below your blank to protect your press.

Once done, carefully peel off the paper while it’s still warm. I always leave mine on for an extra minute before you peel off the paper.

For best results, ensure that you do both sides.

✨ Step 6: Add the Hardware

  • Attach jump rings and earring hooks using pliers.
  • If you’d like extra durability or a glossier finish, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge or a spray sealer and let dry completely.

💡 Bonus Tips:

  • Use coordinating backgrounds or seasonal patterns for holiday collections.
  • Try double-sided designs with patterns on one side and words on the other.
  • Sell them on Etsy, at craft shows, or make personalized gifts!

📌 Pin & Save for Later!

Love this tutorial? Save it on Pinterest or share it with your fellow crafters! And don’t forget to tag me in your creations—I’d love to see how your sublimated wooden earrings turn out!

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through one of these links. I only recommend products I personally use, trust, or believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for supporting my blog and small business!