How to Make Leather Stamped Keychains in 5 Minutes
Remember the days of mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards? You know, those drug store cards and packs of candy you handed out in elementary school? It’s high time they get a grown-up refresh. And because you’re a supportive friend that respects your squad’s New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier, maybe we should skip the candygram this year too. Instead of a sugar bomb, go with something that’s thoughtful, unique *and* mass-produceable, like… leather stamped keychains! Read on for the tutorial.
Materials + Tools:
- — leather scraps
- — leather punch (an awl will also work)
- — embroidery thread
- — jump rings or key rings
- — alphabet stamps
- — stamping block
- — stamping hammer
- — X-ACTO knife
- — pencil
- — scissors
- — cutting mat
- — straight edge
Psst: You can pick up the stamps, block and hammer in our Metal Stamping Tool Kit.
First, use a straight edge to trace the tag on the back of your leather. Cut it out with an X-ACTO knife.
Use a leather punch or awl to poke a hole at the top of your tag.
Place the leather tag on the stamping block, then stamp in each letter by hammering with a swift downward motion.
Pro Tip: If you want to ensure you’re stamping the letters in a straight line, use a piece of tape as a straightedge.
On to the tassel! Cut three 18-inch pieces of embroidery thread, then wrap around three fingers. Tie the jump ring around a section of the loop with another piece of embroidery thread, then add these ends to the rest of the thread.
Bunch all of the embroidery thread below the jump ring, then tie another piece of thread around to make a neck. Double knot this thread, add it to the rest of the thread, then cut your tassel to size.
Attach the leather tag to the jump ring and you’re set.
Repeat, repeat, repeat for everyone in your crew, attach to a key ring and gift away!
Are you making these keychains? If so, we want to see how they turned out! Share photos with the hashtag #iamcreative on Instagram so we can take a peek.
DIY Production and Styling: Maddie Bachelder
Photography: Chris Andre
