without further ado...
The winner is comment #12: Sarah!
"Oh goodness! I would love one of those. I'm woefully underaccessorized. So very cute!
I'm super excited about Heather's book and can't wait to get it."
Posted by: Sarah :: greenclogs | August 19, 2010 6:10 PM
Yay, Sarah! Just email the circumference of your wrist and your mailing address and I will send it right away!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And for the rest of you, I wasn't kidding when I said it was easy. You can make one of your own! The hardest part might be finding the perfect leather belt. I preferred the ones that looked a little worn, but I'm sure that's my inner hippie trying to escape.
Here's what you need:
L to R:
A leather punch (my mom had this one, but they sell simple little ones at the hobby/craft store.)
a nice all leather belt (or two or three)
the leather snap kit (I got this at Hobby Lobby in the leather tooling section.)
a small hammer
strong-ish scissors
Measure your leather out to your desired length and cut neatly across. Don't forget to take into consideration the overlap needed to add the snaps.
Carefully round the corners of the ends to make the cuff look a little more finished.
Decide where your snap will go and punch a hole with your punch.
Insert the little snap/rivet thingy into the hole. It should be tight.
BE SURE to read the instructions on your snap kit carefully. You'll have to do a little bit of thinking to figure out which side goes where- you'll want the finished side of your snap facing the outside of the cuff.
Hammer the snap according to the packaged directions. It said to use a mallet, but I just been used my little jewelry hammer down on the floor, and it worked fine.
The finished "female" side of the snap.
Mark, punch, attach, and hammer the other side of the snap at the other end of the cuff the same way.
Make sure you've got your snap parts facing the right directions. Double check this before you hammer them.
Voila! So easy.
Comments
you are a genius, alicia.
this seems so easy, even to a total craft-loser like myself.
xo,
tt
Posted by: tara thayer | August 26, 2010 12:00 PM
Easy perhaps for you because you are a pro. :)
These look so good A.
Posted by: heather smith jones | August 26, 2010 12:05 PM
I'm on the lookout for belts now, for sure.
Posted by: Ali | August 26, 2010 12:09 PM
Get out! Yay!!! I'll email you. Thanks Alicia!
Posted by: Sarah :: greenclogs | August 26, 2010 1:38 PM
i love this! thanks so much for sharing - i'll definitely be hitting the thrift store this weekend in search of the perfect belt!
Posted by: amanda | August 26, 2010 1:44 PM
i picked up a buckleless belt for $.78 + 30% off while thrifting earlier this week...been waiting for this :-)
Posted by: beki | August 27, 2010 8:49 AM
you are awesome in so many ways!! I think I'm going to have to keep this project in mind for birthday presents this year..or as party favors for a certain girl in March.
Posted by: rachel | August 27, 2010 9:01 AM
thanks for the little tutorial. me too. I am looking for belts this weekend.
Posted by: Ramona | August 27, 2010 9:11 AM
Cute - and so stylish! Love it.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 27, 2010 10:01 PM
Alicia, This is a brilliant idea! I love repurposing things. I was wondering if I could share the picture of your finished project along with a link to your tutorial on my blog?
Posted by: Tricia | September 1, 2010 1:54 PM
This is so cool...thanks for sharing !!!
Posted by: Margaret | September 7, 2010 12:21 PM
OH this is wonderful! I have two belts that I was hoping I could do something like this with them!!! Brilliant! My belts are all worn out so the cuffs will look even cooler. (HAhaa!) So nice to see the fantastic photos. Thanks a million!
Cheers,
Christine
Posted by: Christine | September 7, 2010 12:37 PM
That is too cool! I really want to try it.
Posted by: Jenny | September 7, 2010 1:59 PM
Hey, do you do anything special with the cut ends of the belt to keep them looking neat? And can you cut that part in different ways (curves, zigzag)?
Posted by: dude | September 7, 2010 2:40 PM
I found your cuff craft being featured over at http://ohsocrafty.blobspot.com/ and was so inspired by your project I just wanted to say thanks! I have been wanting to make a watch band like this but didn't want a big buckle to get in the way... A snap! Of course, how simple! I'm making one this weekend!
Thanks, Bunny
Posted by: Bunny | September 8, 2010 9:15 PM
Great tute, Alicia. And lucky lucky Sarah!!!
I saw some belts last weekend and passed them over, thinking they were too fresh looking as well. ha.
Our inner hippies need to get together. xoxo
Posted by: miss chris | September 11, 2010 12:13 PM
love this tutorial - and the cuff bracelet. Last time I was at the goodwill I was searching for leather belts. I found one - now to get to a hobby lobby for a snap kit. :)
Posted by: Regina | September 17, 2010 7:55 AM
What a great project! And cuffs or very in this year. (or so they tell me lol) I write for the Examiner.com and would love to feature your project in an upcoming article about DIY gifts. Please let me know if you'd be interested! (I just need permission to use your photos/tutorial which would be credited back to you, of course!) The Examiner is a free online newspaper.
Posted by: Rebecca | September 21, 2010 5:35 AM
Just found your site. LOVE these cuff bracelets. Have two belts, and will be working on this idea soon! Thanks.
Denise
Junkdogdesign.blogspot.com
Posted by: Denise | September 25, 2010 10:07 PM
too cute! i will be creating that this weekend, hopefully!!
Posted by: Sarah | June 27, 2011 9:40 PM
We'd love to link to this tutorial in an upcoming blog post! So cute.
Posted by: Miranda @ The Pinterest Project | August 17, 2011 4:54 PM
Love this! I just pinned it. I've got gobbs of belts. Now to get the other tools. Thanks for the tut!
Posted by: Lynda | September 22, 2011 5:16 PM