How to Make Faux Leather With Polymer Clay

The look of leather is sophisticated and classic, but unfortunately it can be difficult to work with. You do have another option, though. You can learn to make faux leather with polymer clay. This substitute costs less per piece and is easier to work with than traditional leather.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Copper polymer clay
• Roller
• Rubber stamp
• Dark brown acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Knife

1. Roll out your copper clay to the size you need for your craft or jewelry project.
2. Stamp a design on your clay. You can either use a rubber stamp, or create an interesting texture with other household items. The key is to create some sort of dimension with shadows and color depth for a realistic effect.
3. Bake as you normally would. Allow the piece to cool completely before moving to the next step.
4. Create a burnt leather look. Using the dark brown acrylic paint and a paintbrush, brush the paint over the piece of clay. Pay attention to the detail work on the stamp or texture. You can thin the paint if it appears too thick. Once you've covered the surface, wipe off any excess with a cloth or towel.
5. Finish as you normally would, sealing it if you want.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different applications for which you can use faux leather made of polymer clay. For example, you can create custom boxes, household decorations and jewelry pieces.