Here at Urban Southern we're pretty obsessed with all things leather. From handbags & wallets to earrings and coasters, everything we make is from that beautiful full-grain leather.
We also like to use leather in fun ways around our workshop. Our price tags are leather, our signs are leather, we even have a custom toilet paper holder that is made with a bridle bit and leather straps!
With all those leather projects I'm sure you can imagine the amount of leather scraps we have lying around; and with our no waste mentality we decided to get creative and make a few Christmas gifts. We had so much fun creating them, that we just had to share them with you! So if you're still looking for special gifts for the ones you love, how about grabbing some leather scraps and getting crafty with us!
Leather Gift Tags
Materials/Tools:
· Leather Scraps
· Modge Podge
· Glitter
· Painters Tape
· String or Thin Leather Scraps
· Leather Hole Puncher or Hammer & Nail
· Scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut your leather into tag shapes.
2. Using the tape, create a design by sectioning off the part of the tag that you want to be covered in glitter. We did a few different designs for our tags, but get creative and do whatever you like best!
3. Spread Modge Podge over the taped off area, and sprinkle glitter over top.
4. Peel the tape off and let it dry.
5. Using a wet cloth, lightly dampen the part of the leather where you are going to stamp your letters. The leather should be damp but not soaking wet; this will help create a better impression.
6. Grab your Leather Stamper Kit and using the tool, center your letter in place. Hammer the end of the stamper a few times to make the impression. Repeat with each letter.
7. Using the Hole Puncher or the Hammer and Nail, punch out a small hole on the top center of the tag.
8. Attach the string or thin leather scrap, and you're finished!
Leather Christmas Ornament
Materials/Tools:
· Leather Scraps
· Scissors
· String
· Wooden Beads
· Leather Hole Puncher or Hammer & Nail
Instructions:
1. Cut out 8 thin strips of leather, the same width, but varying lengths.
2. Using the Hole Puncher or the Hammer and Nail, punch out small holes (just big enough for the string to fit through) on the top and bottom of the leather strips.
3. Cut a long piece of string.
4. Starting with the shortest piece of leather, place the string through both the top and bottom holes and pull through. Repeat with the remaining strips, wrapping them over the ones already on the string. Start with the shorter strips and slowly progress to the longer ones.
5. Once all the strips are on the string, place one bead on the bottom and two on the top of the ornament. Pull the string tight and compress the leather pieces until you get that rounded shape.
6. Tie a few knots on either end of the beads to keep everything in place.
7. Rotate the strips around until all the sides are even and the gaps are filled.
8. Tie the top string to create a loop, and hang on your tree!
Leather Herb Planter Labels
Materials/Tools:
· Leather Scraps
· Scissors
· String
· Leather Hole Puncher or Hammer & Nail
· Fine Tip White Paint Marker or Chalk Marker.
Instructions:
1. Cut out small leather rectangles, approximately 1.5" x 4" (or larger depending on the size of your pots).
2. Using the Hole Puncher or the Hammer and Nail, punch out a small hole on either side of the rectangle.
3. Using the Paint Marker or Chalk Marker (All they had at our local store was a Chalk Marker, and it worked just fine. But for something more permanent, use a Paint one) write your herb names on the center of the patch, and let dry.
4. Cut a piece of string, based on your pot size.
5. Place the string through the holes and pull through. Tie around your pot and you're done!
Monogrammed Leather Bookmark
Materials/Tools:
· Leather Scraps
· Scissors
· String or Thin Leather Scraps
· Leather Hole Puncher or Hammer & Nail
Instructions:
1. Cut a long rectangle from your Leather Scraps, approximately 2" x 6.5", then cut a v shape onto the bottom.
2. Using a wet cloth, lightly dampen the part of the leather where you are going to stamp your letters. The leather should be damp but not soaking wet; this will help create a better impression.
3. Grab your Leather Stamper Kit and using the tool, center your letter in place. Hammer the end of the stamper a few times to make the impression. Repeat with each letter.
4. Using the Hole Puncher or the Hammer and Nail, punch out a small hole on the top center of the bookmark.
5. Attach the string or thin leather scrap, and you're finished!