My daughter requested one of those custom leather bracelets for her birthday this year. So, at around $30 to $80 each, I was soon searching the internet for DIY tutorials on how to make leather bracelets of the same style and quality at around a fraction of the cost!
It didn’t take long before I had the information and guess what, they are extremely simple to make! I found three different methods of making leather bracelets at a fraction of the cost.
A DIY Licorice Leather Bracelet
So I found some beautiful wholesale licorice leather, you can get it in just about any color you could think of. Licorice leather also known as regaliz leather is named after the old style licorice sticks, it’s flat on one side and rounded on the other very much like the letter “D” shape.
Also freely available was a good variety of leather bracelet clasps and slide on beads that fit perfectly to make my diy leather bracelet.
As I was making this for my daughter who’s not so girly I went for black leather and a few simple beads, but I did notice a shocking pink licorice leather and some great sparkling beads whilst looking and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of them!
What You Will Need:
- Wholesale Licorice Leather Cord
- Licorice Leather Bracelet Clasps – (the magnetic once are really good).
- Slide on licorice leather beads
- Strong Jewellery Glue
Method:
This part hardly needs any instructions!
Step1. Slide the beads on in the order you require.
Step2. Glue on the clasps. You should only need one drop of glue on each side to glue the clasp onto the leather ends. Be sure to test the clasps on both ends before gluing as it’s possible to accidentally glue one part upside down, and please don’t ask me how I know this!
From Simple To Fully Loaded:
Trendy Homemade Leather Bracelet
A braided homemade leather bracelet would be defiantly high on the fashion list right now. For girls, boys, men or women, there’s a color and style that will suite anyone, and they are so easy to make!
In fact this trendy and genuine leather bracelet took me less than two minutes to make up; it’s totally unique and has cost me just a fraction of the price of a store bought one.
I’ve used wooden Pandora style beads for making this bracelet because I wanted to give it an ‘eco’ look and feel, but you can purchase this same braided leather in a hot silvery grey, and when threaded with sparkling gem type Pandora beads it takes on a whole new look.
What You Will Need:
- 5 Pandora style wooden jewelry beads (14x8mm) (hole size 5mm).
- 1 magnetic clasp (make sure the clasp is made to fit the leather).
- 1 braided leather (4mm) Check out jewellery threads for more info.
- Strong glue.
Method:
Step1. To get the required bracelet size, wrap the leather loosely around the wrist twice. Next, thread on the beads.
Step 2. Put one drop of glue into one side of the clasp and then insert the leather into it. Repeat this process with the other side of the clasp.
Step 3. Leave the bracelet to dry completely before showing it off.
A Homemade Unisex Leather Bracelet
If you would like a hip and fun idea for a unisex leather bracelet, then look no further. This is a really neat looking homemade bracelet that wraps around the wrist three times.
I’ve placed three wooden Pandora style beads on the front and spruced them up with a few jump rings and a bit of natural brown suede cord.
I wanted the back of the bracelet to look just as good as the front so I’ve spared no cost on the large bold stainless steel hook. I think this gives the whole bracelet a cool look and feel, it also makes fastening it a cinch.
What You Will Need:
- Flat leather cord 5 x 2mm
- Flat suede cord 2.5mm
- 3 Pandora style beads (14 x 7)
- Hook clasp to fit the leather (mine has a 7 x 4mm hole)
- 40 jump rings (8 mm)
- Glue.
Method:
Step 1. Take a piece of flat leather about 24 inches or 22 for a female in length. Make a loop at one end of the leather; glue it down and leave it to dry (I usually overlap by just under an inch).
Step 2. Thread 8 jump rings onto the leather and then push them all the way along the leather, then up and onto the area where you have overlapped and glued the leather.
Step 3. Slide on another 4 jump rings, followed by 1 bead, followed by another 4 jump rings. Push them towards the other end of the leather but don’t worry too much about their position we will deal with that later. Repeat this two more times followed by a final 8 jump rings.
Step 4. OK so now you should have( 8 jump rings ) then (4 jump rings,1 bead, 4 jump rings ) then (4 jump rings, 1 bead, 4 jump rings) then (4 jump rings, 1bead, 4 jump rings) and then lastly (8 jump rings).
Thread the leather around the metal hook and glue it down.
Step 5. Check that your first 8 jump rings are positioned nicely onto the double layer of leather and then just after the jump rings on the single part of the leather, wrap a small piece of flat suede cord twice around the leather and glue it down to secure it.
Step 6. Measure about 3inches or 2 for a female from the very end of the leather (about 2 inches from the suede) and wrap a piece of flat suede cord twice around the leather and glue it down to secure it. Push 4 jump rings 1 bead and another 4 jump rings up to the flat cord that you’ve just glued down, and wrap another piece of cord around the leather in the same way and glue that down as well.
Step 7. Measure 6 1/4 inch or 5 inch for a female from the last piece of suede cord that you have just glued down, and as you did in step 8 glue on the cord, push the 4 jump rings, the bead and then 4 jump rings up to it and glue on another piece of suede cord.
Measure yet another 6 1/4 inch or 5 for a female from the last piece of suede and repeat the sequence.
Step 8. Finish your unisex leather bracelet the same way as you did with the other end of the leather, push the remaining 8 jump rings up and onto the doubled up leather, and secure them with the flat cord.
Next, take a look at these practical homemade beaded bracelets are the easiest and most popular way to go, they slip on and off without the need of a catch and can usually fit any wrist.