Hi everyone!!!
I have another project share for you today! This little project is a spin off, of the cuffs that I created for my Mid Month University Challenge this month.
This cuff was made from a faux leather belt, that I cut to size with my Tim Holtz Scissors....cuts like butter!!! This project can also be made with a piece of a real leather belt.
A side view of the 'faux embossing' I did, using a Prima 'Leaves' die. Yes, a die!!! Which I then colored using Silks Acrylic Glazes and Viva Decor Inka Gold in various colors. The flower is two Flying Unicorn Metal Adornments, stacked on top of each other, and held in place with a brad.
The closure is a Tim Holtz Idea-ology Hitch Fastener.
A closeup view of the 'embossing' and coloring.
A flat view, showing the hitch fastener.
Here are the steps:
- Find a faux or real leather belt. Measure your wrist, and decide how loosely, you want the cuff to be. Add an additional 2" of length for overlap. Cut your belt. Add a permanent ink (black or brown), to the edges that you cut.
- Using a thin rule die of your choice, place in your manual die cutting machine. Please note that you will need to configure your plates, so that the leather will go through the machine, without jamming. Do this carefully, and without forcing the stack to go through. I used only one cutting plate, over the multi-purpose platform, and then added a padded envelope to fill the void. Once you are sure that your stack will go through without force, run your leather/die stack through the machine. Repeat as many times as you would like. I should note, that this can also be done with embossing folders, instead of dies!!!!
- Paint your 'embossing' with several colors of acrylic glaze and inka gold. Let dry, and buff. If the paint is too stubborn, carefully wipe with a baby wipe. The paint will stay in the grooves, but not on top of the leather.
- Now take out 2 metal adornments. Using the acrylic glazes, color the inner flowers of your bloom. When dry, add Glossy Accents over top, and let dry.
- Using your Crop-o-dile or Big Bite, punch a small hole in the middle of both of your blooms. Decide where you want your flower on your cuff, and punch a small hole in the leather. Take out a brad, and run it through the metal pieces and leather. Open the prongs and squeeze them firmly to the back of your cuff.
- Make a large hole with your Crop-o-dile, approximately 1" from the nice end of the leather. Line up your leather into the Crop-o-dile again, overlapping the first hole, and punch. You are making a bit of an oblong hole.
- On the other end of the leather, punch a small hole. insert a hitch fastener, add some glossy accents on the screw part, and then screw the ball end of the fastener in place.
That's it!!!! Imagine what you can do with real and faux leather belts, or even purses. Heck, how about an old leather jacket. The sky's the limit here!!!!
So have fun, and do try this technique......I think you will be hooked!!!!
Happy playing!
Lynne