Chatter

N Taylor on “Blue Bird of Happiness in Brass”:
“I went to HD yesterday and the folks in the tools section told me the key…” read »
N Taylor on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Great tutorial, thanks for sharing. For those looking for the dark wire, the same company that…” read »
N Taylor on “Bluebells”:
“Oh my...I want them.…” read »
Beadzilla aka Wanda on “Totally Teal”:
“Thank you!.. Yes Ann the ring is worked in a spiral.…” read »
J Putnam on “Rock and Roll Earrings”:
“Are there instructions I am missing?…” read »
Lois D on “Bluebells”:
“Gorgeous earrings; gorgeous flowers! Thanks for sharing both.…” read »
Medieval Momma on “Bluebells”:
“Very pretty!…” read »
Ann-a706 on “Tourmaline Dream”:
“This is a piece one can wear from day to night, very beautiful!…” read »
Ann-a706 on “Totally Teal”:
“Wanda the ring is cute, did you a spiral worked in to your ring?…” read »
jdbeast1 on “Garden Droplets”:
“Love it....You always inspire me, Ali !…” read »
N Taylor on “Totally Teal”:
“Wanda you are such a skilled artist. Love those bracelets....Teal is such a happy color.…” read »
Beadzilla aka Wanda on “a taste of honey”:
“Gorgeous Doktor! My kind of colors.…” read »
Beadzilla aka Wanda on “Evergreen Copper”:
“Ooops! I meant, Thank you all!…” read »
Beadzilla aka Wanda on “Evergreen Copper”:
“Thanks you!....…” read »
Laud on “Evergreen Copper”:
“The copper, the stones--love it all. Lovely, dramatic design.…” read »
Laud on “Prince Moai”:
“Great set. Jimmy's a lucky moai.…” read »
Granny Chick aka Nancy on “Tourmaline Dream”:
“Love it! Exquisite beads.…” read »
D Bienen on “Prince Moai”:
“These pieces are just stunning!!!!! Love looking at the lovely projects beaders have done..it is…” read »
Chelsea H on “Lots of Copper”:
“You could always start learning etching! I find that 16g through 20g copper makes some of…” read »
SpiralGalaxyx7 on “Violet Tendril Earrings”:
“Wonderful use of the sari silk ribbons! Love the earrings! I'm so glad lucite is not…” read »
Lisa LaBarre-Kurz on “Lovely Impression”:
“KO thread is used without a needle because of the stiffness of it. At Lima beads…” read »
Mary S – Sweet Chick on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Thanks Lynda and Kate! I'll take a closer look at Swellegant. Lynda, thank you for the…” read »
Beadzilla aka Wanda on “Prince Moai”:
“Great looking pieces Jimmy is wearing. The nuggets are gorgeous. …” read »
monicaocoatl on “Prince Moai”:
“I have a huge crush on Jimmy too and he loves wearing all the blink. LOL…” read »
Fresh Baked on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Hi, Mary. There are other ways to get the oxidized look without the smell of…” read »
Chris Foust on “Simply Crystal”:
“Wow! Simply gorgeous!…” read »
Kate on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Mary S-- You could try using Swellegant instead of LOS. These are slightly acidic and shouldn't…” read »
N Taylor on “A Green Cuff”:
“Wow! Blown away. Thanks for all the pics. Wow!…” read »
N Taylor on “Lots of Copper”:
“Great earrings. Can't wait to see what you do with the 16g.…” read »
N Taylor on “Butterfly Dance”:
“Wanda, I really like this. Love the Butterfly theme and admire all the hard work…” read »
N Taylor on “Prince Moai”:
“Please let Jimmy know that he is my first on-line crush. Love a guy who…” read »
N Taylor on “Blue Bird of Happiness in Brass”:
“Thank you all. Let me share with you, brass is the hardest metal I have worked…” read »
Blooming Ideas on “Tourmaline Dream”:
“Beautiful! Fabulous pendant...makes for a beautiful necklace.…” read »
Nancy Mc on “Tourmaline Dream”:
“Dream is the perfect word to use for this set. Oh my gosh!!!!!…” read »
Nancy Mc on “Prince Moai”:
“Much fabulocity here. I'm a huuuuuge Aqua nugget fan. They look great with Quartz.It has such…” read »
Nancy Mc on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Thanks for that tutorial,FB. I would never have guessed about the "loop first" method. I'll give…” read »
Mary S – Sweet Chick on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“I read your tute and found it very easy to follow! And must agree with Kate and…” read »
Little Round Chick on “Mystic Mystery”:
“Love that color! Great design, too. …” read »
Little Round Chick on “Raspberry and Cream!”:
“YUM! Can I have mine with shortbread? This is such a gorgeous technique, Julia,…” read »
monicaocoatl on “Prince Moai”:
“No earrings for Prince Jimmy! I 'm wearing the earrings! LOL Thank you very much! These…” read »

Sunshine Leather Cuff

by Ali on 09/21/12

Bigger Photo

About this design:

I really wanted to experiment with alcohol inks on my new leather cuff. Once I started I just loved the effect that it gave me, but it was calling for a little something more. So I decided to stitch in some Irish waxed linen and use it to attach a Vintaj artisan copper blank. The sunshine theme comes from a song my kids love to sing with me which is why I stamped the word SUNSHINE and their initials.

Buy the supplies:

The products in this design are listed below.

Additional Images:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

	Step 1: Lay flat your cuff in preperation to be inked. Select your color alcohol inks and apply in varying places and amounts to the applicator pad. See Tip: Coloring Metal with Alcohol Inks
	Step 2: Apply the alcohol inks to the leather cuff. After I applied the inks, I waited a moment then gently swiped down the leather to blend my colors. Then I went in with a freshly applied alcohol ink applicator and added a bit more ink for some depth. See Tip: Coloring Metal with Alcohol Inks
	Step 3: Decide on the placement of your focal. (Remember you're going to be wearing and bending the cuff, so close attention to focal placement here while the cuff is flat is essential). Lay it on the cuff exactly where you want it and mark the holes.
	Step 4: Punching a hole in the leather is very easy. Simply choose the size hole you want to punch, I went with the smallest. Rotate the sizes around until you have the one you want to use matching up with the brass plate on the opposing side. Place your rotary punch appropriately and squeeze until you feel the hole pop through.
	Step 5: Once you have you focal holes punched, mark out the border holes evenly and punch.
	Step 6: Stitch through the border holes using the 4 ply Irish waxed linen. I tripled it on the ends and double stitched on the sides. When you get the focal holes, stitch through once and wait until you are ready to attach the stamped copper piece.
	Step 7: I added a bit of texture using my brass hammer. You could use an actual texturing hammer instead. I chose my brass one because it was on hand and I decided at the last minute to texture it. :-) See Tip: Hammering Texture on a Blank
	Step 8: Flatten out your metal, then tape in place. I used blue painters tape. The tape serves two purposes for me. First: it holds the metal down, so that I don't have to worry about it moving while I'm trying to stamp the letters. Second: it gives me a line to follow so that my text is relatively straight!
	Step 9: Stamp out your letters. Once the stamping is complete, I used Vintaj Patina Inks to color the metal and a Sharpie to fill in the letters. After applying each, I wiped the copper so that it wasn't too much coverage-- you can do this to taste. See Tip: Stamping Blanks
	Step 10: Place leather cuff on wrist as it would be worn. Lay the copper blank where it will be attached and form it on the leather giving the copper a gentle curve.
	Step 11: Stitch copper to the cuff using the waxed linen. See Tip: Irish Waxed Linen
	Step 12: Once the copper has been attached take length of silk ribbon along with the tails of waxed linen and wrap around the cuff and copper several times. Make sure that you are pulling the ribbon and waxed linen taut while you wrap. Tie a secure overhand knot a couple times and you're done.
	Step 13: Completed cuff!