Ipad Cover

Well my latest and if i do say so myself greatest project is finally complete. This project took 2 weekends, including careful planning, tooling, knife work and a dye process with 4 stages. I used all of the techniques i have learnt to date and the final result looks pretty good if i do say so myself.

The original project designs look like this

Tandy Leather Craft Ipad Kit

My final design 

Front - Dragon Scales with Dragon

Back - Dragon Scales with Initials in Scroll

Ipad Cover

This iPad cover features a Dragon Scale effect and 2 central framed sections with a Dragon and my Initials in a winding scroll.

The colouring includes Saddle tan for the images, Black Dye for the borders and Briar Brown for the Scales and border.

Stitching is Double Loop

I really enjoyed making this :)

Woods Tool - Leather Sheath

This weeks leather crafting project was a leather sheath for a small flashlight and small knife.

Overall it was a very easy project to make with the only real challenge being the stitching at the end through 4 layers of leather. Luckily i recently bought a stitching pony and this made it much easier to do.

I gave this project to my father in law and i think he was pretty happy about it. Especially as it was embossed with his initials to personalise it.

Woods Tool - Leather Sheath

Top Notch Billfold

Well I'm back at work and finally had time this weekend to complete another leather craft project. This time I created a "Top Notch Billfold". As usual I altered the design and used two craft aid dragons and a craft aid banner in place of the supplied flower embossing pattern. I also textured the background and used color dye to highlight the dragons. I again used a double loop lacing pattern to stitch the project together with much greater success than last time. To finish the project I used Eco Flo Super Sheen as a resist to create the two toned background effect. Overall I feel this project turned out rather well.

Top Notch Billfold

Top Notch Billfold

Dragon Belt

My Latest project is a leather Belt with a pair of dragons emblazoned in the centre. The dragons are traditional chinese dragons from the Tandy Leather Factory "dragons" craft aid No 76606. The belt also has my favourite "basket weave" pattern that i used on the Mobile Phone holder and back of my ID wallet.

I stained the leather with Eco Flo Saddle tan dye and then after it had dried I painted the dragon design with Yellow, Orange, Black and White.

I guess that for my first real attempt at painting a detailed design i did ok..... I think i need to research how to mix and apply dye to a design a little more. I also want to research more on how to "finish" the leather because i think that there is room for improvement there also.

I discovered a fantastic new leather craft website today http://leatherworker.net and I'm already discovering better ways to colour designs and finish my leather projects.

Dragon Belt

Smart Phone Cover

My latest project is a cover/belt holder for my iPhone. This was a nice project to complete, taking about 2 days including dye drying time. Techniques that i have used in this project include, the use of a craft aid, letter stamping, texture stamping and dye layering to achieve a 3 coloured effect. I also used resist around the edges to keep some of the original leather colour. Overall a great little project :)

Front View

Inside View

Back View

Closed View (with iPhone inside)

Drink Coaster

Well I have been on holidays for a few weeks now and had plenty of time to practice and experiment with    a variety of projects and techniques. I have also had time to surf the net and learn about leather craft tips and tricks. The other day I read about using a Stylus to bevel the edges of my tooling patterns. This technique greatly improve the smoothness of the designs and remove the tooling marks that stamps leave behind. I also have started to use colour dyes in my designs to enhance the effect of tooling the leather. My latest project, while only a simple coaster, incorporates all of the new techniques that i have learned and shows how colour can be used in leather working. I think its a great success and gives me great confidence in tackling larger and more challenging projects.

Flower Coaster practice design

I started this project with a corner design from one of my Craft Aids. Next I cut out the design with a swivel knife and then used a scooped stylus to bevel the edges. I then stamped the design and finally used Red, Green, White and Briar Brown Hi-Lite dyes to colour the design. 

Checkbook Cover

This weeks project is a check book cover. Well it should be but i have modified it to become a notebook or personal diary cover for Pene, my beautiful wife. There are many new techniques applied in this project and overall I am rather pleased with the results.

For the tooling i used the supplied floral pattern on the back side of the cover. On the front side i used my new letter stamps, and 2 patterns from the Craftaid templates i recently purchased from Tandy Leather Factory. The first is a Celtic corner design, and the second a Scroll pattern.

The finish i used involved DK cocoa Brown for the background, and Briar Brown for Hi-Lites. The scroll is stained with Raisin Mahogany. The entire piece is then sealed with Super Shene.

The stitching is a "Double Loop" pattern and proved to be quiet challenging...but very satisfying :)