How to Stamp Leather
Stamping leather is a satisfying hobby with a practical outcome. You use artistic skill to plan your design, and you get to hammer in that design with a mallet. Then you can show off the result, wearing the decorated belt or bag you made on your own. If you're wild about stamping, remember that personalized leather goods also make welcome gifts.
Instructions
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Buy stamping leather at crafts or leather stores; it will be thicker than leather used for clothing. Pre-cut shapes are the best to use when you're starting out, and they're available individually or as part of leather-stamping kits. Try wallets, belts, barrettes--anything you'll put into use. When you've mastered the craft of leather stamping, you may advance to cutting your own large pieces down to size.
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Collect a variety of leather stamps, including recognizable objects and decorative motifs. You may want to combine the two, using the objects as focal points and the motifs as design elements. You can find stamps in crafts stores and online (see Resources).
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Place the leather on a surface strong enough to withstand pounding. A good bet is a piece of lumber or something like a tree stump.
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Using a sponge, slightly dampen the piece of leather until the color darkens. Let it dry until it's nearly the original tan color. You'll know whether the moisture level is right when you start stamping. If you can't form a deep enough impression to last, you need more water; if you make a deep impression but there's no darker color at the bottom of it, you've used too much water. It's not easy to get this just right; you may need to practice on scrap leather first.
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Put a stamp down and tap it lightly with the mallet. Lifting the stamp off a bit, check your impression. If it's too light, replace the stamp and tap some more. For the finishing touch, rub in leather oil.
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