How to Recycle and Reuse Mismatched Earrings

Mismatched earrings are one of the most fun and even profitable items to recycle and reuse. If you find yourself missing an earring or if you find an earring without a match, save it and reuse or recycle it in one of the following ways.

My favorite way to reuse stud style earrings is as pushpins for a cork board. If you do not have a cork board, you can make your own by using fabric to cover a piece of Styrofoam. Lots of mismatched sparkling earrings together make a pretty and eclectic way to display your notes, photographs, and memories.

Earrings can be dismantled and altered or used as parts to make new jewelry, key chains, or suncatchers. Keep the dismantled earrings with the rest of your craft or jewelry-making supplies and put them to good use.

If you do not make crafts and you cannot make jewelry, you can save the mismatched earrings and sell them with other odd bits and jewelry parts. I can always make a nice amount of cash by selling off jewelry parts on Ebay, even if it is all costume jewelry. They are in high demand.

Large dangling earrings can be used as sparkling, unique Christmas tree decorations. If they are not large enough to be an ornament by themselves, you may be able to at least use them to create a handmade ornament.

Some people have extra odd-numbered piercings in their ears (I myself have three) and may be able to use a single unpaired earring. Ask to see if anyone you know can use them.

If all else fails, mismatched earrings can be donated to a thrift store or to Goodwill along with a box of other items that you plan to donate. They will be able to find them a good home.