DIY

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments

12.03.15

I know, I KNOW. Gemstones are so last year. But leather is way in so I’m half on-trend with these cuties. Anyways I still like diamondey things so I’m going with these DIY leather gemstone ornaments and you’ll just have to deal.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

Keep on reading to learn how to make your own DIY leather gemstone ornaments, plus learn the easy trick for gold foiling which I’ve just discovered and want to do forevermore. Foil all the things!

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments

Materials:

TIP: upcycle! Use a thrifted leather belt or bag to save money and give an old item new purpose.

*AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS IF YOU PURCHASE, I WILL EARN A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU, WHICH IS PRETTY SWEET BECAUSE IT HELPS ME PAY BLOGGING BILLS, SO THANK YOU! I WILL ONLY LINK TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED OR WOULD USE MYSELF, PINKY PROMISE.

Directions:

Step One – Trace the template onto the back side of leather and cut out with sharp scissors. I’ve made 3 different sized templates to fit different belt widths if you are going the upcycled route.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

Step Two – Punch a small hole in the top of the ornament.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

Step Three – Now comes the easy gold foil trick. Use the glue pen to paint glue onto the area of the leather you want to foil. The glue will be blue when wet and dry clear. It will still be tacky when it’s dry, which is what we want for foiling.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

It’s hard to tell in this photo but the ornament on the left is still wet and the one on the right is dry. This glue only takes a couple minutes to dry so you don’t have to wait around forever.

*If you’re using any other foil adhesives, be sure to follow the directions for that product.

Step Four – When the glue is completely clear, and tacky rather than wet to the touch, lay a piece of gold foil over the glue—SHINY SIDE UP, my friends—and rub it all over with your finger. You will see the foil start to separate from the sheet.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

Step Five – Peel off the foil and you have a beautiful foiled ornament. MAGIC.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

If you missed any spots you can just put the foil back on, rub rub rub, and peel again.

Step Six – Attach a jump ring and a bit of metallic embroidery thread for hanging.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

And that’s it! Cover your home in handmade Christmas ornaments.

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

DIY Leather Gemstone Ornaments by Idle Hands Awake

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway to Artfully Walls!

Ok who else is stunned that the holidays are so imminent? Can we just all agree that it still feels like September?

*AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS IF YOU PURCHASE, I WILL EARN A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU, WHICH IS PRETTY SWEET BECAUSE IT HELPS ME PAY BLOGGING BILLS, SO THANK YOU! I WILL ONLY LINK TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED OR WOULD USE MYSELF, PINKY PROMISE.

Author: Marlene @ Idle Hands Awake

Maker, baker, cat momma, total nerd, perpetually covered in glitter/sawdust/paint. Blogging DIY and design for modern creatives.

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