Stamped leather belts are easy to make, here I made one for my teenage daughter, she asked for butterflies and flowers…
Over time I have collected many metal stamps, they are a wonderful way to decorate leather and give it some texture.
I use a liquid called easy carve from eco-flo to soften the leather, but you could also use a wet sponge, apply it to the leather and wait for it to dry a little (about 20) minutes, before impressing the stamps onto the leather with a mallet.
I then painted the impressions with acrylic leather paint, which is the fun part. You will need a really fine paintbrush.
Next, I applied block out resist and let it dry overnight. The following day I edge finished the strap by bevelling the edges and dyeing them with black edge kote. I then dyed the leather with antique gel mid brown.
Here is what you need to make the stamped leather belt
- veg tanned leather, you can buy straps intended for belt making in different widths
- metal stamps
- acrylic leather paint, paint brush
- antique gel (eco-flo), mid brown
- edge dye
- edge beveler to round edges of leather
- slot punch
- hole punch
- thread and sewing awl
- belt buckle
Making the stamped leather belt
Once you finished decorating the strap of leather, you can start making the belt.
With the slot punch make an opening for the belt buckle, about 3.5 cm long.
Then paint the inside of the buckle with edge dye.
To attach the buckle mark the stitches either with a stitch marker or a measuring tape.
Now punch the holes, you will have something that looks like this. Cut a small strap of leather and punch a hole on either side.
Sew everything together, sandwiching the small strap between the layers of the belt strap.
Here you see the other end of the belt. The holes at this end are best made when the person the belt is for wears it. Punch two or three holes and you finished your stamped leather belt!
You will find all the material and tools at Identity store, a shop that sells everything to do with leather. Check out my other leather craft projects like making leather cuff bracelets, wallets or sandal making.