How to Make Easy Leather Crafts and Costumes

If you are a beginner at Leather crafting, you will be surprised at how much fun you can have with a few scraps of suede, a leather punch and some leather laces (also known as thongs). Before attempting anything too difficult, I suggest you practice the technique making fun small accessory projects, and then once you feel comfortable with it, try making something bigger, like Halloween costumes.

You can make simple items like leather bracelets or wrist guards, a suede pouch, a barbarian/caveman costume, or even an Ewok costume with ease. If you want to dress up your creations, you can add decoration to your pieces using paint or leather stamping, or by adding feathers or beads.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather and suede scraps
• Real/fake fur
• Leather laces/thongs
• Leather punch
• Sharp scissors
• Pen
• Teddy Bear costume (for Ewok)
• Optional decorations: Beads, feathers, paint, leather stamps and mallet

1. Make a leather bracelet or wrist band by wrapping a scrap of leather around your wrist and marking it where one edge overlaps the other. Cut it to the desired size to fit around your wrist/forearm. Mark a few holes on either side of each end. Punch holes, and lace a thong through them. You now have a simple leather wrist guard or bracelet. Decorate by painting or stamping the leather or adding beads or feathers to the thongs if you wish, or leave it natural.

2. Now you can make a leather pouch. It can be any size that your scraps will allow. Small ones make cute necklaces, larger ones work for purses. You will need two pieces of leather of the same width, but different lengths. The longer piece will be the back of the pouch and will have a flap which folds over the first piece to close the pouch. Line up the bottom corners and the sides, (you can cut them rounded or square) mark and punch where your holes will go along the edges, and then lace up the sides and bottom to join the front and back together, making the sides of your pouch. You can punch additional holes to create a leather strap for a purse, or to tie it around your neck with a thong for a necklace, or tie it onto your belt for a pouch. Leave the rough edge of the leather on the flap, or cut it to desired shape. Decorate or leave natural.

3. Now you are ready to make an easy caveman/barbarian costume. If you have big enough leather/suede pieces, you can piece together a caveman/barbarian skirt, loincloth, or kilt, using lacing to join the pieces and adjust it to the desired size. You can also make a caveman/barbarian “tube top” using the same basic idea. Just cut it to size and lace it together instead of sewing it. These look great natural, or with added beads/feathers. You can also use real or fake fur instead of suede or leather.

4. You can make a Star Wars Ewok headdress similar to a tube top or pouch. Just lace a large piece of suede to go over the head and neck to a smaller piece of suede under the chin and around the neck to hold it in place. Cut ear holes and slip it on over a teddy bear costume. You now have an adorable Ewok Halloween costume, a fun caveman/barbarian costume, and all of the accessories to go with it.

Tips & Warnings

• Above all, have fun with it. Happy crafting.