Leather Cuff Using Recycled Upcycled Leather Tutorial

Free Tutorial, this is so easy you can make it today and wear it today. :)

Supplies: 

1. Find an old belt that doesn't fit anymore or one from a thrift store.  Cut off approx. 7 1/4 inches of the leather (for a large cuff-less if your wrist is smaller).  Most belts will make 3-6 cuff bracelets or more depending on the size of the belt and the cuffs you make.
2.  Choose a great pottery focal bead.  I have several 100 to choose from I used the 30x60 mm cuff bead.
3.  Gather your leather punch, an ice pick would work also (just be careful).

 4.  Micro screws are used to cold connect (Cold connection refers to the process of joining together two pieces of metal without the use of heat) the pieces. I use a screwdriver to attach the screws like one you would use to repair eyeglasses.  The ends of the micro screws can easily be cut off if too long using wire cutters, and filed if needed with a household file to debur the edges.  I will often put a tiny drop of glue to make sure the screws do not loosen as the cuff is worn.

Stainless steel micro screws and nuts

 5. A pair of decorative ends in sterling silver plate.

These are reversable

Directions:

1. Cut the leather to size about 7 inches.
2. Hold the decorative end to the top end of the leather and mark where the screws will go.  Punch with leather punch.
3.  Attach decorative end using the micro screws and nuts.  Trim excess if needed with wire cutters.

One side attached to the decorative end

The back of the cuff

4.  Repeat with other side and attach a jump ring to one side and a lobster claw to the other side.

5.  Choose a cuff bead and mark the center placement on the leather using a pencil to indicate hole placement.  Make holes with leather punch and attach with micro screws and nuts thru the top of the bead, down into the leather, and finishing in the back with the nut.  Trim screw if necessary with wire cutters.  The screw should hold the bead to the leather but do not over tighten as you could break the bead. 

The back of the cuff before the screws were trimmed with wire cutters

 The finished bracelet, so cute and so easy.  How many will you make?

Leather cuff with pottery cowgirl bead

 I hope you enjoy creating with this free leather cuff and pottery bead tutorial.

Recycled Blue Jeans Wrap Bracelet Tutorial

I love denim, so comfy and casual.  I recycled part of a leg of jeans and made a cute wrap bracelet and wanted to share the process.  I started by ripping a one inch strip of denim from an old pants leg.  The strip is approx. 16 inches, you may need more or less depending on your wrist size.  I frayed the edges by removing some of the threads from the sides of the denim.  Be sure and rip the length of the jean leg, the part that goes up and down. Then gather your supplies, I have scissors, needle and thread, jump rings, a 4 inch piece of 8 gauge copper, a hammer, some pliers, a metal block and one of my oval pottery links.

 Fold over approx. a 1/2 inch of the denim and stitch with a running stitch to make a loop.

 Knot the thread to finish and then add one heavy duty copper jump ring in thru the denim loop.

 Add a 2nd copper jump ring.  Repeat with the other side of the denim.

 Attach one of my pottery oval links.  This one is in stormy blue.

 Take about 4 inches of 8 gauge copper wire and form a circle with your round nose pliers.

 Flatten the link with your hammer and metal block.  Cut the ends so they are the same size and hang over the opening of the pottery link about a 1/4 of an inch.  This is a simple toggle but you could make a fancier one if you wanted to.  Attach the toggle to the other side of the denim. 
One side now has a toggle and one side the pottery link.

 Wrap the denim around your wrist, and secure with the link and toggle.  Easy Peasy, and ready for wearing.  Mine is going to be a Christmas gift, and as easy as these are you might want to make several of these. You could use ribbon, sari silk, embellish the denim strip, extend the length of the denim and wrap multiple times.....endless combinations.  Enjoy!