How to Pin Pressed-in Studs

Pronged studs are pressed through materials and bent flush to ensure hold.
Adding studs to a DIY project can add the perfect amount of toughness or edge. Studs with prongs are the most secure and durable for fabrics or materials that see a lot of activity or wear. Studs are pinned and pressed into clothing, leather jewelry and accessories, and upholstery; pliers are then used to secure the backs of the prongs to the item's material. Studs come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes and can be applied in minutes.

Instructions
Things You'll Need
1. o Fabric Chalk Measuring tape Studs Pliers

1 2 3 4

Determine the desired stud pattern. Use the measuring tape and chalk to equidistantly space and mark studs along the pattern.
o

Place a stud over the chalk marking. Press the stud prongs through the material you're using so the prongs are exposed on the other (back) side.
o

Use the pliers to bend the prongs inward, toward the center of the stud. Bend all prongs flush to the back side of the material, ensuring attachment.
o

Repeat the stud-application process for each marking in the pattern.

How to Gild Leather

Gold-leafed leather books are kept for generations.

For centuries, a leather book gilded with gold leaf has been a symbol of elegance, good taste and prestige. There were fears the skill was dying in this era of paperbacks and e-books. However, today's collage artists and craftspeople are keeping the art alive with the creation of limited-edition, handmade books and boxes and leather jewelry decorated with tissue-thin sheets of true gold leaf or modern, more cost-effective alternatives. And, while the traditional methods relied on heat and pressure to attach the leaf to leather, today's modern adhesives make the process simpler.

Instructions
Things You'll Need
1. o Gold (or other metal alloy) leaf sheets Wax paper or small plastic bag Foundation sizing Tacky glue Tweezers Artist brush or cotton swabs Dull knife, such as a butter knife Cheesecloth, or other lint-free cloth Wax or clear finish

1 2 3

Spread out a large sheet of wax paper or a plastic bag to catch the bits from the fragile gold leaf sheets. The leftover bits can be collected for other projects and stored in a small plastic bag.
o

Copy your design to the surface. You can create a solid graphic with the gold leaf sheet or easily tear or cut it into small narrow pieces to mix with other media or create wispy effects.
o

Dye or paint the leather and let it dry thoroughly before attempting to add leafing. It should be the last step before finishing the project.
o

Spread a layer of sizing only in the areas where you will be applying the gilding. This will allow the two different media to more firmly adhere. Remove any excess by flaking it away when dry so that the gold leaf will not accidentally settle in an area that is not part of the design. Use a small stiff brush to lay sizing in narrow spaces.

5 6 7 8 9

Apply the tacky adhesive over the area with the dried sizing.
o

Use tweezers to place a sheet of gold leaf on wax paper; if you need smaller pieces, cut it with a butter knife or tear it into pieces.
o

Lay the gold leaf over the areas to be gilded. Tweezers are useful if you are applying only a small piece of leaf such as a letter for a monogram.
o

Press down gilding uniformly. A cotton swap can help push it into tight, small spaces.
o

Start to buff gently with the cheesecloth. Once you are sure that the gilding is in place, buff more firmly. Be careful here -- too firm and bits may come off.
o

10

Add a wax or acrylic top coat.

How to Braid Leather Bracelets

How to Braid Leather Bracelets

Learning how to braid leather bracelets is fun and easy. Braided leather bracelets are a great craft for young and old alike.

Instructions
Things You'll Need
1. o leather, thin enough to be workable ruler utlity or craft knife block of wood (work surface) Sharpies (to add color, optional) riveting tool and rivets (or snaps)

Select leather thin enough to be manipulate easily. On your block of wood cut leather to the width dimensions you would like for your bracelet. The example in these pictures are 1 inch wide, but to wear myself, I'd go with 3/4 inch, widest. (You need thinner strips for a tighter braid!) For length, the example pictures are 11 inches long, but once braided, that shrinks to 9 inches. For myself, I'd go with 9 inches long to make a 7 or 7.5 inche bracelet.

Measure 1 inch down from the top edge and the bottom edge. (You need to leave room for your rivets or snaps!) Cut 2 equal sized strips in your leather with your utility or craft knife, leaving you with 3 strips total.
o

If you'd like, color your strips with Sharpies. I colored mine in the example to make it easier to read these instructions and decided I liked the way it looked as a finished piece! The right strip (blue) is labeled A, the center strip (neutral) is labeled B and the third strip (red) is labeled C. If you can't see these pictures clearly, click on each to enlarge them!

Move Blue A to the right, over top of Neutral B.

o

Move Blue A to the right, underneath Red C.

o

Move Neutral B to the right, over top of Red C.

o

The bottom edge is labeled Bottom Tab. Feed the Bottom Tab through the hole created between Blue A and Neutral B.
o

Looks weird, huh? You're halfway through your first braid!

o

Move Blue A to the left, over top of Neutral B.

o

10

Move Red C to the right, over top of Blue A.

o

11

Move Neutral B to the right, over Red C.

o

12

Feed the Bottom Tab through the hole created by Blue A and Red C.
o

13

Your first braid of your leather bracelet is now completed! Continue steps 4 through 12 as a whole (no stopping halfway through steps 4 through 12 or your braid won't lay flat!) as long as you have room to braid your leather strips. Add a rivet or snap at the center of each tab at the ends and you're done! You have now braided a leather bracelet!

How to Make Handmade Primitive Leather Boots

Leather boots are a Native American tradition.

Handmade primitive leather boots, or moccasins, are as unique as the person creating them. In fact, each tribe actually has its own unique way of crafting leather boots that benefits it for its particular environment.

Instructions
Things You'll Need
Thin cardboard sheets Pencil Scissors Paper Ruler Leather Glover's needles Artificial sinew Awl Needle-nose pliers Tape

1. Creating a Pattern
o

1
Stand on the piece of thin cardboard and have someone trace the outline of your feet with a pencil.

2
Cut out the pattern with scissors.

3
Fold a piece of paper that is at least twice the pattern's width in half. Place the pattern onto the paper with the big toe nearest to the fold. Make sure the foot pattern is completely straight on the paper.

4
Measure 1/4-inch from the widest part of your foot on both sides of it. Connect the two points with a line going around the toes. Draw a straight line going from the outside 1/4-inch mark down to the bottom of the paper.

5
Cut out the outline. This is the sole pattern for the boots.

6
Draw a line from the bottom of the paper that is 2 inches long and 1 inch across. This will be where the tongue is placed.

7
Draw a rectangle on a new sheet of paper that is 3 inches wide and 5 inches long. This will be the tongue.

2. Constructing the boots

o

1
Cut out the sole and tongue pieces from the leather. Trace the tongue spaces onto the leather, but do not cut them out.

2
Fold the boot pieces in half and whip-stitch them closed around the edges.

3
Cut out the "T" shape for the tongue.

4
Fold the boot up and whip-stitch the heel.

5
Whip-stitch the tongue into place.

Weekend DIY Project: How to Make a Leather Wallet

In order from left to right as seen in the photo, the tools you need are: Metal ruler Knife/Razor blade Glovers needle Dot setter and Bout press (for fixing snaps) Rotary punch Thick and dense piece of leather (to use in conjunction with the rotary punch) Waxed string and sinew Mallet Cutting board Leather

The Process
Step One

Mark out your preferred dimensions for your wallet on a cut of leather. Make your cuts with a sharp knife and glide along the rulers edge to keep the cut straight. If you will be adding an overlapping tab with a snap button, add no less than two inches to the end of the wallet length to account for it. This wallet is cut to 10-inches long, including the extended snap tab, and 7-inches wide before being folded over.

In the photo above, you can see that I make one large cut twice the width of what the wallet will be in order to fold it over itself for the main (cash) pocket. You can do this or cut it into two pieces to be stitched together later. Either way works fine.
Step Two

Shape your snap tabs at one end of the wallet. When the wallet is folded, they will become one.
Step Three

Cut out the embossed cowhide to make your card and change pockets.

In this case we made three card pockets, each measuring 3-inches by 2-inches and one change pocket at 3-inches by 3-inches.

Lay the card pockets on top of each other evenly spaced out and use tape to secure them, and then tape them to the body of the wallet that will be on the inside.
Step Four

Use the rotary punch (with the thick piece of leather placed underneath the leather that is receiving the holes), to punch holes in the card pockets and in the body of the wallet. Using the thick hide below your wallet will both extend the life of your tool and also make it easier to punch holes.
Step Five

Stitch one side of the card pocket to the body of the wallet using the waxed string. Begin your stitching on the inside of the wallet to hide the knot.
Step Six

Remove the tape and finish stitching the card pockets. Double-back on your stitching for added strength and to be able to tie the end string with the original starting knot. Use a lighter to slightly burn the knot so that the wax melts together.
Step Seven

Repeat steps four through six for a change pocket on the opposing side, or for more card slots.

Step Eight

Determine the location for your snaps. Fold and close the wallet and then flip the snap tab over the closed wallet. Mark the snap placement with the Glovers needle.

Use the rotary tool to punch a hole for both sides of the snap button (the male portion of the snap will be inserted into the snap tab, while the female portion is placed in the rear body of the wallet where the tab makes contact when closed).
Note: Snaps are made up of four pieces: two for the male end and two for the female. To connect

them to the leather, you essentially make a leather sandwich with two correlating portions on either side of the leather, and then you pound them together with the dot setter, bout press and a mallet. You can tell which side is which because the male portions have a cupped head, while the female portions are flat.
Step Nine

Insert the outer male end of the snap into the snap tab from the outside. Place the correlating end on the opposite side of the tab. Use the concave side of your bout press (to accommodate the round head of the snap) and, place the dot setter to where the two correlating pieces connect, and then mallet hammer the two pieces together. Repeat this step for the female portion of the snap on the rear body of the wallet.
Step Ten

Fold your leather so that it forms what will eventually be a completed wallet. Use your rotary tool to punch holes in the body of the wallet (both side together!) alongside your card pockets and near the edge.
Step Eleven

Using your Glovers needle and sinew, and making sure that you have enough sinew to stitch the entire perimeter of your wallet twice, which is about three times more than you would think, stitch the side of the wallet that you just punched holes for. Once that portion is stitched up, punch holes around the remaining perimeter of your wallet.

Leather pony
You Will Need

Leather Scissors Hole Punch Eyelet Pliers Satin Ribbon

Instructions 1.

Gather your material

2.

Measure the girth of your ponytail. For the width of the corset substract 1 cm of the girth and mark it on your leather.

3.

The height depends on your personal taste.

4.

Cut the piece out.

5.

Use the hole punch or any other tool to make holes with equally distance.

6.

This is what it could look like...

7.

lt Like Headband

You Will Need

Belt From Boots Or Shoes Plastic Headband Hot Glue Gun

Instructions 1.

Get an headband and the belt. Put the belt on the headband to you can check if it won't show the end of the belt when you're wearing it and try to figure out where the middle is.

2. Put the belt on the table, spread glue in the middle, from one end to the other. I didn't use much glue, and using on a almost daily basis, it's still good.

3. Carefully, put the headband on the glue. I started in the middle and it came out good. Leave to dry.

Leather Scrap Wrap Bracelet

You Will Need

Leather Scraps Large Jump Ring(s) Bead Leather Cord Chain Bead Wax Cotton Cord Beading Wire Jewelry Pliers Fabric Glue Scissors /Craft Knife Craft Wire Crimp Beads

Instructions 1.

Collect all supplies needed for this project in order to begin creating the individual sections of the bracelet.

2.

Start by cutting your leather scraps into strips approximately 1/3" - 1" wide and about 8" 9" long, tapering the ends to a tip that is about 1/4" wide. See image. Creating a tip at the ends of each strip of leather will allow the metal beads to fit over the leather.

3.

Fold the end over at about 1" away from the end of the strip and glue it in place, leaving a loop at the end for the jump ring to fit through. Either slip a metal bead over the end or use wire to wrap the end. See image. Repeat for the remaining 5 ends of your leather strips.

4.

Now it's time to prepare the other sections of the bracelet. Place a crimp bead at the end of your beading wire and crimp in place, again leaving a loop with enough room for your jump ring to fit through the end. Add your choice of beads; I like wood, stone, or bone for more masculine bracelets and pearls or crystal for more feminine

ones. The section of beads should only be about 2" - 3" long. Crimp a crimp bead at the other end of the wire to create a connection for your jump ring and to secure the beads in place. See image. Use the craft wire and fabric glue to create a loop at the end of your leather cord and repeat on the other end. See image. This strip should be approximately 5" - 6" in length. Select a chain that goes with the desired look of the bracelet and cut a piece of chain about 5" long. The bracelet will tie together using two pieces of cotton cording. Cut 2 strips of cord about 5" long. Fold the end over and use the craft wire and fabric glue to create a loop at the only one end of each piece. As always, make sure the loop is big enough for your jump rings to fit through. See image.

5.

Using jump rings, connect all of the pieces together in this order: 1. cotton cord 2. wide leather strip 3. bead strand 4. leather cord 5. medium leather strip 6. chain 7. thin leather strip 8. cotton cord

6.

Here's how to wrap the bracelet comfortably around your wrist. - Hold the cotton cord end of the thicker side of the bracelet with the thumb of the hand that will be wearing the bracelet (usually the right). - Place a marker or thick pen against your wrist - this sounds weird, but it will keep you from wrapping the bracelet too tightly around your wrist. - Now begin to tightly wrap the bracelet around your wrist, again starting with the thicker end of the bracelet. - Tie the bracelet in place, tuck ends under bracelet, and remove the marker/pen. This will most likely take a couple tries to get just right, but when you do, you're going to love it!

The Leather Wristband

You Will Need

Leather Velcro Tape Thread Leather Needle

Instructions 1.

Cut two leather pieces: a) small one: couple inches/4-5cm should be quite enough. b) bigger one: Measure your wrist. You will need to add 2 inches to your wrist measurement so you will have room to add a small piece of velcro tape.

2.

Measure centre from the bigger leather piece.

3.

Roll the small piece around the centre.

4.

Sew the ends together.

5.

Set and shape "bow".

6.

Sew velcro tape to wristband's heads.

Leather Bracelet
You Will Need

65 cm Leather String Scissors Leather Glue Toothpick Measuring Utencils

Instructions
1.

Measure your wrist measurement

2.

Take the same length leather

3.

4.

and make a circle.

5.

...three circles

6.

7.

start knitting an ordinary spittle

8.

but hold the beginning of the leather string,because if you don`t the spittle will fall apart.

9.

When you are ready with the knitting

10.

put one leather string on top of the other

11.

and pass the third one through them like this.

12.

13.

if you want to check the length put a needle and try it on

14.

in case the bracelet too big or small is,start again knitting but leave 1 or 2 cm more

15.

if the length is ok cut the rest of the leather string

16.

and lay the glue on the two parts of the string.Use the toothpick for more precise work.

17.

18.

press for a few seconds the two parts.And your leather bracelet is done.

Leather Tassel Necklace,Bagcharm, Keyring

You Will Need

Fabric Glue scrap Chain i used peases from old jewelry Fabric Scissors Chain Cutter small piese Leather

Instructions
1.

First take leather and cut it in to a rectangle. U can do in in any size u want . just make other sides a bit shorter that the other two. My chain already had this bigger loop on it but if u want u can add one to urs

2.

Mark a strait line to piece along the longer side. this line is only there to mark for u where to cut. Cut mall stand of leather all the way . Mine totally even but it still looks fine to me.

3.

After done whit the cutting take chain and clue it to the other end of the piece.

4.

Add more glue to the uncut end of the piece and start makig a tight roll. start the rollig from the chain end so that u seal the chain inside the roll. wipe of the excess glue.

5.

roll shoud look like this. cut the extra chain hangig from the bottom (if u have any) and done. now u have a leather tassel to do what u will.

Leather Owl Bag

You Will Need

Paper Thread Wood Fusible Interfacing Leather Belt multi-colouredLeather Scraps Leather Needle Button(s) Leather Magnetic Clasp

Instructions 1.

First of all you will need your paper to draw half of your owl shape. Cut it out then use this to flip over and draw your full owl shape (this makes sure both sides are even!) This is the pattern for the front of the bag.

2.

Using The pattern for the front of the bag, trace around then draw an half of the owl's face (this is what will be the flap to close the bag).

3.

Now you'll need to decide on the depth of the bag as you'll need to add this amount to the top of the owl shape.

4.

Fold the added-on bit in half horizontally, and trace the outline of the owl's face from underneath. Cut this out.

5.

Now fold the owl in half vertically and trace the shape of the Owls face on to the other half.

6.

Now cut around the Owl's body too.

7.

Use thses patterns to transfer on to the reverse side of your leather.

8.

and cut them out.

9.

Now using your paper, cut out feather shaped to use as a stencil. I made 2 different sizes.

10.

Using the stencils, cut out as many feathers as you wish in different colours

11.

start to sew them in to place (making sure you've changed the needle to the leather one).

12.

now see your bag taking shape!!

13.

At this point i measured around the piece with string to get the measurement for the strip that will form the depth of the bag. Cut out this length and for the width use the depth you decided on for the bag. Mine was 79cm x 3cm.

14.

Now, with right sides together, sew the strip to the front of your bag. Do the same for the back.

15.

Turn it the right way and check that it's sewn all around the edges.

16.

Now i used a belt as a strap, but use what you like. Sew it to the side of your bag.

17.

18.

I noticed my bag wasn't holding it's shape very well, so i ironed on interfacing inside and used a piece of wood on the back to hold the shape better.

19.

Now i put the magnetic clasp on....

20.

And cut a beak out of the leather to cover it up.

21.

Finally it's time for the Owl's eyes, Cut a template out then use to cut out in leather. Add smaller Circles then buttons to finish the eyes off. Glue on to the flap of the bag.

Leather Journal
You Will Need

Leather Paper Waxed Thread or cord Big Needle - doesn't need to be sharp Awl Rotary Cutter or a sharp blade Cutting Mat and a piece of cardboard Straight Edge Ruler Snap Button(s) Hammer and tools for snaps

Instructions 1.

take your paper (I got a 50 sheet package of drawing paper at a craft store - $1.10 - I liked the color) and cut out rectangles to make signatures with.<BR><BR>I determinded the size of the journal I wanted by the paper I bought. I cut my 12"x9" sheets in half 10 at a time, then folded the rectangles in half, so I ended up with 4"x6" pages.

2.

unfold your signatures and measure where to punch your holes.<BR><BR>I punched 6 holes to get a nice even stitching on the spine of my journal.

3.

I used an awl for this part.<BR>I put a piece of cardboard between my pages and cutting board so the holes go all the way through better.

4.

refold your signatures, press them down, and measure how thick they are altogether.

5.

now the the outside - I used leather, but you can use whatever ya like. I LOVE the smell!<BR><BR>I got a 1/2 lb. bag of leather scraps at a carfts store - $6<BR><BR>try to get a large enough piece for the size journal you'll be making.<BR>measure the signatures your just made and allow extra for the flap to fold over the front cover.<BR>I didn't have a big enough piece, so I cut the leather in ways that gave me the most to work with.

6.

A rotary cutter worked great on this, but any really sharp blade will be fine.<BR><BR>I wanted to have neat-o stitch lines on mine so I took advantage of needing to piece together my strips and cut diagonally along the leather.

7.

match that cut with the piece you'll be joining it with.<BR>I like the raw edges the leather scraps come with, so I pick out the ones I like best for the ends of my strip.

8.

measure out holes to punch with an awl so that they're even and match up well.<BR>that was a bit tricky with a diagonal line, so if you don't want to mess up your leather, make a paper template first and after you get the holes situated where ya want and it all goes together how ya like, punch the leather.

9.

leave a tail about 6" long or so, and with your pieces side by side, go through the holes as if they were wrong sides together, in the same direction.

10.

bring your needle through the holes and go through the loop, pull tight and go through the next holes down the

same way.<BR>The first stitch won't have a loop to go through, but you can wind around the tail you left and then pull it between the pieces where they're butted up together and run the thread under the stiches on the back side. do the same at the other end when you finish sewing it up, and run that tail up through the stitches on the other side, too.<BR><BR>I like using waxed thread for this because it sorta sticks to itself and I didn't need to make any knots on the back side - much smoother that way.

11.

the spine - this is where you'll need that measurement from your signatures - mine was about an inch thick.<BR><BR>wrap your leather around your pages and decide where you

want to sew your signatures in.<BR>I divided up my inch into six and punched the holes in the same spots I punched them in the paper before.

12.

sew the signatures into the leather - I started at the top, went in from the leather side and through the pages, wove the needle in and out until I reached the bottom, then went back up, then down... and so on until you've got all the holes filled. tie the ends off and leave them long or string up some beads on them... I poked the ends back through so the spine was nice and clean.

13.

cut a strip to wrap around the journal & hold it together.<BR><BR>I secured mine with a decorative silver button thing to match the snap I wanted to use at the other end.

14.

measure around your journal and decide where to place your snap.<BR><BR>you could totally just leave the strap long to tie the journal up with, but I didn't

Sex And The City Half Scoop Gloves

You Will Need

Gloves Tailors Chalk Scissors (not for fabric) Sewing Machine Loctite Vinyl Glue Sewing MachineLeather Needle
Sewing Thread

Instructions 1.

Enter a typical pair of wrist-length leather gloves (mine I got at the Buffalo Exchange for $8). Wish that they were gray or brown

2.

By using the photos on the website as reference, I sketched the scoop shape using an eraseable fabric pen onto the gloves. You can see the white lines on the gloves...I tried a couple variations before deciding on the shape. Always make sure your pencil comes off of leather BEFORE you draw all over your gloves!

3.

Add 1/4" seam allowance below the line, and cut with a pair of sharp shears. Behold the scoop shape!

4.

Using Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, and Plastic Glue, turn under that 1/4" seam allowance and secure it to the underside of the glove. ('Tis necessary to glue the seam allowance since leather gloves are usually made from a thin and soft lambskin...which rolls and shifts uncontrollably as you sew it on a home sewing machine...unless you're an all-star with sewing lightweight leathers, I'd recommend gluing it down to get that clean seam first!)

5.

Then, using a leather needle (medium-weight leather, since we're going through two thicknesses + two thicknesses of the lining), edge-stitch about 1/8" from the edge of your gloves to secure that hem. You're done! Step back and admire.