How to Make a Stamped Leather Belt

Everyone wears belts but still likes the personal touch. The answer; is a belt stamped and designed especially for them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather belts purchased by width of choice
• Buckle
• Wooden mallet
• Finishing tool
• Leather stain
• Small sponges
• Measuring tape
• Q-tip (optinal)
• Leather cutting tool and finishing spoon or beveling tool
• Razor knife
• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Alphabet Stamp Kit for Leather: Capitals and lower case are available.
• Extra designed stamps you want to buy for your chosen pattern

1. Measure the person's waist you want to make the belt for and add two or three inches more. Purchase the leather belt strip with snap attached at the correct measured size. Draw or choose a pre-printed design and buy the necessary stamps to make it. Purchase at least one alphabet stamp kit, stain if desired, buckle and the tools listed above.

2. Using a pencil draw the design of choice on paper for your leather belt strip. When you are satisfied with the design transfer using tracing paper onto the leather strip. If you are going to personalize the belt with a name allow about one inch per letter and then using your stamp kit insert the handle and tap the top with the wooden mallet to make the letter. Remember to place the stamp on facing backwards so the letter is correct. The purchased kit will show you the correct way as that is how it looks when you open it. Continue stamping the name until satisfied. Using the design stamps or tool tap the top and follow your traced pattern to create your special design.

3. To stain the belt you can do this first by brushing on any color using little sponges and short strokes. If you are staining do it after all the design has been completed. Let dry thoroughly. Taking your razor knife cut the belt to the size now desired allowing the design to remain in equal spacing. Now take the leather cutting took which has a C end and round off the end so it looks finished. Using the finishing spoon smooth any rough spots in your stamped design.

4. Take the buckle and snap into place. Take the opposite end and punch two of three holes using the leather punch tool and tapping the top medium hard with the wooden mallet this makes your size adjustable. Again take the finishing spoon and smooth inside the holes and outside so there are no rough edges. If you wise to stain the inside of the hole you can use a q-tip and swab inside. Let dry.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a great scout project or craft fair sales project.
• Staining is optional but with all different colors it personalizes the gift for that special someone.
• First practice on old pieces of scrap leather or the pieces you cut off before doing the design to get the feel of how hard to hit the stamps to work right on the leather.
• There are many different designed stamps and picture stamps you can purchase individually at any time to make other styles. I only suggested the basic's needed.
• Because of the use of the razor knife for cutting and stain adult supervision is suggested for all ages.
• Would not do this with kids under age 8.