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.

Leather and Pottery Cuff Tutorial

I recently explored the possibility of making my own leather cuffs as I wasn't able to find what I wanted.  I found that both my local craft stores (Michael's and Hobby Lobby) sold leather strips (in the leather section of the store) that are approx. 4x9 inches.  I also found that in the sewing department I could purchase metal buttons that are designed for jeans.  The process was really easy, just cut the leather to the width you need and the length plus one inch to the length.  

Leather Punch

I have a leather punch that I used to punch a small hole in about 1/2 inch from one side and centered.

Metal button back

This shows the nail head of the metal button

Put the nail head of the metal button into the hole and then flip over the leather and line up the decorative metal button top, carefully flip over again and put the button back on a hard surface.  
 

This is the top of the decorative jean button

 With one good whack of the hammer it will be attached firmly to the leather.  On the other side of the leather I made two small holes parallel of each other and cut the center to form the button hole for the cuff.

Give the back of the button a whack or two with your hammer

The button is now attached

This is what it looks like buttoned

 Now embellish the cuff with old findings and a pottery bead. Determine the mid point of the leather, and align a pottery bead on a metal finding.  It helps if the metal is curved, just take a can of veggies out of the pantry and use it to curve the metal.  Line up the bead with the metal finding and mark on the metal finding where the holes are in the pottery bead.  Punch a hole thru the metal where you made your marks.  I use my euro punch to punch the metal but you could use a drill also.

My Euro Punch

Now line up to the mid section of your leather cuff and mark where the holes will hit the cuff.  Make a tiny hole with a leather punch, and then add a micro screw thru the pottery bead, finding and leather secure on the back with a micro nut.  You could add E-6000 to the back of the metal finding before attaching the screws for a more secure fit.  

This cuff was made with one of my Edith beads

I love the patina on the metal

This image shows the micro screws on the inside of the cuff.  The back of the micro screw can be sanded with a file if it is too long.

This image shows all the details of the cuff assembly

Another version using black leather and one of my pottery rose beads

These are so easy to make and the varieties could be endless using old findings and pottery beads.  I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.  Happy day! Cindy