Flap Mobile Phone Case

My last project for 2011 is a Flap mobile phone case. Today, the last dog of 2011, has been an extra hot day so my family and I have remained indoors with the air conditioner on full watching movies, playing the Wii and making craft projects (my wife Pene is a master digital scrap booker, look for the link to her blog on the right hand menu of this blog). As I stated in my last post I really like the Basket weave stamp design and therefore I have made a project that features this design. I also said I was going to buy some lettering stamps and I have :). This project is really simple as it only uses 2 stamping tools for the basket weave and 1 dye : Saddle tan Hi Lite.

I hope anyone reading this has a fantastic new year and every success in 2012. I personally am turning 40, will have been married for 12 fantastic years and my new years resolution is to spend more time playing with the kids, cuddling my wife, and making leather craft projects.

before

ready to assemble 

Finished front view

Finished back view

ID Card Wallet

Amazingly the latest project that i have completed is not a Key fob.....Its a ID card wallet. I used two designs for this project. The first being a Floral design that involved a great deal of cutting with the swivel knife, and stamping with 8 different stamps...quiet a challenge but extremely satisfying. The second design is the basket weave back. This entire basket weave design is done with only 2 stamps (C431 & X511) and is easily my favourite symmetrical design so far. For staining of this project i modified the suggested design and went with a 3 toned effect. To achieve this i firstly used DC cocoa Brown for the background of the Floral Design and then Super Sheen as a resist for the borders and background. Once this had dried overnight i used Briar Brown Hi lite over the flower and basket weave. Overall I'm rather please about the outcome of this project.

Design Traced on...ready to begin cutting & stamping

Staining complete

Project complete front view

Project complete inside view

Yet another key fob

Yep believe it or not i've done yet another key fob. This new version involved letter carving, and i believe is an improvement on my first attempt at lettering. On a side note i was browsing the Tandy Leather Store catalogue and discovered Letter Stamps in a variety of sizes!!. I will be definitely buying a set or 2 of these to replace the current tracing and free hand lettering i have been trying.

I'm much happier with my tooling of this key fob, the impressions are much more defined and symmetrical. Unfortunately i think i should have waited longer to stain the centre section after applying the resist super sheen. i can see where the super sheen has picked up the DK brown dye in various sections. I also think i should have used a lighter highlight stain to color the centre. I used DK brown dye and probably should have used Brair Brown highlight....but you live and learn.

Beginning 

Middle

End

My new Tool Kit

I went to the Hardware store today and spent some Christmas cash on some tools for my leather working. It was great fun, i should do it more often :)

Tool Box $35
Utility Knife $10
Scissors $10
Leather Hole Punch $15
Craft Knife $10
Metal Ruler $10

Indulging my new hobby = Priceless

Christmas Presents

Yep its Christmas and Santa Claus has been very generous ( i must have been a good boy this year :)) because i now have loads of leather working projects to do. My lovely wife and kids gave me the Basic Leathercraft kit & the Deluxe Leathercraft kit from Tandy Leather Factory. My mother-in-law also gave me an iPad cover project kit. 

I have been very busy today and made 2 projects...a key fob and a Coin pouch. Yep i know i have already made one of each of these but todays projects involved my first experience with lettering and templates. The lettering was harder than i thought.....i need practice, lots of practice. The template was very enjoyable, especially using the swivel knife to cut the design, and using the various stains to create the 3 and 2 shades of colour in the projects....i can't wait to do more and get better.

Flower design...not to bad  for my first try with the Swivel knife

2 and 3 shades of colour......i like the effect

Letters are hard...I must practice more

A new beginning

Well this is my first attempt at leather crafting. I spent $21.99 +P&H for the E-Z to do Leather crafting Kit from Tandy Leather Factory. The kit comes with everything you need to complete the 7 projects, and i have to say it was fantastic fun. I started nervously in the morning and had finished all 7 projects by the end of the day.....its so addictive. Yep at times ( often actually ) my handy work looked like a monkey had done it but i don't mind because it was very satisfying to say "it's my work and i made this with my own hands". The only disappointing thing was i had to wait until i could buy or get the next project...luckily it was christmas soon :) My favourite piece was the coin pouch ( i use it for my coffee money in my car ). I also use the key fob. ( not in the picture below )

My first leather working projects
Detailed pictures available in the Project Gallery