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Monday, October 3, 2011

How to make a spooky leather cuff bracelet

A very creative friend of mine introduced me to making leather cuff bracelets earlier this year, and I've been addicted ever since! I have quite a few leather cuffs that I like to rotate out, and since it's now Halloween season, I thought I might need a spooky one to wear! 

Start buy getting leather scraps. You can buy them by the bag at Michael's or Hobby Lobby, or order them online. 

Cut a strip that is long enough to wrap around your wrist, with a little overlap for a button closure. You can get really fun with the edges on these if you want (zig zags, scallops, etc.). I just did a nice straight edge for this one though.


Cut out circles that will be made into flowers out of a contrasting color. (You can also use felt flowers!). 

Cut petals on the circles.


Using tweezers, hold the flower petals over an open flame (be careful!) and let it singe the edges. They will curl up! 


Nest them back on top of each other and set aside.


Use a rub on or stamp (with permanent ink) directly onto the leather. Rub ons typically eventually crack over time & wear and tear, but I like the distressed look. 

I added a charm from my stash, using a brad and poking a hole in the leather with an Exacto blade.


Poke holes through the center of each flower, and the spot you want it in on your cuff, and attach with a brad. 

You can also sew on buttons; I poked holes in the cuff again with a blade and sewed on a button with some twine.


If your button or charm can't be attached with thread or a brad, try using E6000 glue. It holds up just fine!


Cute, huh? :)


(To attach it all together, I just sew on a button close to the end, wrap it around my wrist, and mark on the overlapping piece of leather where the button hole should go. Then I cut a button hole with a blade or scissors.)

2 comments:

Kimberly said...

That is so ADORABLE!!! I LOVE it!
Want it!...Love your tutorial on heating the edges to get the curl too! Super cool!
xx
Loves,
K

Unknown said...

love your work. great shots of everything...