Instructions on Making Belt Buckles

Make your own belt buckle for fun and fashion.

Making your own belt buckle is a great way to show off your style and creativity. Belt buckles can be designed by color, style and size. You can design them to be flashy or modest and just plain fun. Make them shine with rhinestones and glitter or cover them in fabrics or leather and personalize them with your name or initials. However you decide to dress them up, you will have the satisfaction that it is a one of a kind.

Things You'll Need

• Blank belt buckle
• Newspaper
• Super glue
• Vinegar or cleaning solution
• Rhinestones
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Clear spray sealer
• Fine-tip marker
• Material
• Ribbon

Instructions

Rhinestone Belt Buckle

1. Use plain white vinegar or purchase a cleaner to clean the belt buckle before gluing any items to it. Dry the buckle with a soft towel.

2. 

   Use rhinestones to jazz up your belt buckle.

   Decide how you would like to design your belt buckle. Cover the work surface with newspaper. Lay out the rhinestones, tweezers and glue.

3. Lay the buckle face up and follow the directions on the glue bottle. Apply the glue in small areas as you work. Use the tweezers to grasp the rhinestones and place them on the glue. Apply firm pressure to adhere the rhinestones to the belt buckle. Continue this process until you have completed your design.

4. Continue to work in small sections until your design is complete. Set the belt buckle aside until the glue is completely dry. Fasten the buckle to a belt.

Painted Belt Buckle

1. Apply an even coat of acrylic paint to the belt buckle. Use long smooth strokes to prevent the paint from becoming too thick. Allow the buckle to dry completely.

2. Add a second coat of paint if needed. Allow the paint to dry completely. Paint the buckle with a design of your choice.

3. Let the paint completely dry and spray with a clear spray sealer. Dry completely and fasten the buckle to your belt.

Fabric-covered belt buckle

1. Decide which fabrics you will be using. Place the buckle upside down on the fabric; trace around the buckle with a fine point fabric marker. Cut out the material.

2. Cover the buckle completely with glue. Lay the material on top of the glue and smooth it out so that there are no wrinkles or creases. Let the glue completely dry.

3. Measure a piece of ribbon, pearl string, lace or leather that will go completely around the outside edge of the buckle. Place a thin bead of glue all the way around the outer edge and firmly press the material onto the glue. Completely dry and attach to a belt.

Tips & Warnings

• When working with glue and paint, it is important to be located in a well-ventilated room.

References

• How To Make Your Own Belt Buckle
• Paints, Gesso, Mediums, Painting Supplies/Acrylic Paint -- Advantages of Acrylic Artist Paints