tinselandtrim
  • Home
  • DIY + Crafts
    • All Holidays
      Holidays

      Spooktacular Black + White Halloween

      October 21, 2018

      Holidays Halloween-inspired paintings from Janet Hill Studio

      Halloween Delights from Janet Hill Studio

      October 4, 2018

      DIY + Crafts Shibori Week - Shibori Ribbon

      Shibori Week – Ribbons

      June 22, 2018

      DIY + Crafts Shibori Week - Lavender Sachets

      Shibori Week – Lavender Sachets

      June 21, 2018

      Holidays

      Spooktacular Black + White Halloween

      October 21, 2018

      Holidays Halloween-inspired paintings from Janet Hill Studio

      Halloween Delights from Janet Hill Studio

      October 4, 2018

      Holidays Greeting Card Roundup - Valentine's Day

      Greeting Card Roundup – Valentines’ Day

      February 6, 2018

      Holidays

      DIY New Year’s Eve Cupcake Toppers

      December 30, 2017

  • Home
  • DIY + Crafts
    • All Holidays
      Holidays

      Spooktacular Black + White Halloween

      October 21, 2018

      Holidays Halloween-inspired paintings from Janet Hill Studio

      Halloween Delights from Janet Hill Studio

      October 4, 2018

      DIY + Crafts Shibori Week - Shibori Ribbon

      Shibori Week – Ribbons

      June 22, 2018

      DIY + Crafts Shibori Week - Lavender Sachets

      Shibori Week – Lavender Sachets

      June 21, 2018

      Holidays

      Spooktacular Black + White Halloween

      October 21, 2018

      Holidays Halloween-inspired paintings from Janet Hill Studio

      Halloween Delights from Janet Hill Studio

      October 4, 2018

      Holidays Greeting Card Roundup - Valentine's Day

      Greeting Card Roundup – Valentines’ Day

      February 6, 2018

      Holidays

      DIY New Year’s Eve Cupcake Toppers

      December 30, 2017

tinselandtrim

crafting memories

DIY painted leather tassels

tassel-9

Tassels are so fun, aren’t they?  I wanted to try my hand at a leather craft and decided a tassel would be a good place to start.  Add a touch of paint and you’ve got a unique keychain or fashion accessory.

If you are just starting out in leather, I recommend finding a local leather retailer and rummaging through their scrap bin.  You can try a bunch of different types of leather (weight, texture, color, etc.) without spending a lot.  The alternative to the scrap bin is either buy the entire hide (that’s a lot of tassels!) or look for options at your local craft store.  The craft store won’t have as much variety but it’s a good option if it’s a one-off project.

DIY painted leather tassel

Time

It should take about 15 minutes to cut and assemble your tassel, not including time to apply and dry the paint.  All told, be generous and give yourself an hour with paint.

Materials

  • 5″ x 0.5″ leather piece for the hook
  • 5″ x 3.5″ leather piece for the tassel
  • Lobster clasps swivel claw hook keyring
  • Split ring (not shown, optional)
  • Small double cap rivets (matching the clasp finish)
  • Leather acrylic paint
  • Craft glue

Tools

  • Scissors
  • X-acto blade
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Setting hammer
  • Rotary leather punch
  • Fine-tip brush

Optional supplies and tips at the end.

tassel-1

tassel-13

Step 1

On the back of your large leather piece measure one inch from the top, drawing a line along its length.  Next, measure and mark perpendicular lines at 1/4 inch intervals.

tassel-2

template

Step 2

On the front of your tassel and hook pieces, mark with tape where you want to paint.

tassel-3

Step 3

Using the tape as a guide, paint your design.  I don’t recommend painting up to or over the edge of the tape.  The leather has too much texture and the paint is likely to bleed under the tape.  Instead, embrace a slightly imperfect line – you’ll be happier for it (trust me)!

Allow to dry.

tassel-4

Step 4

Once your leather is dry, turn it around and cut along the vertical marks.

Tip: Clean up the leather fibers (lint) by trimming the edges with scissors.

tassel-5

Step 5

Fold your small leather piece in half and punch a hole through both halves 1/2″ from the top.

Place your clasp through the piece and secure in place with a rivet.

tassel-6

tassel-7

Step 6

Apply glue on the back of the tassel piece.  Align the hook piece along the top left edge and fold the tassel piece around it until you have a tight coil.

Allow to dry.

tassel-8

Shimmy shimmy! You just made a painted leather tassel!

tassel-10

Add a split ring to use it as a keyring.

tassel-12

Optional Supplies

If you want to use recycled or scrap leather, you may need to clean it up with a leather cleaner.

Similarly, if the leather has a finish, you may need to deglaze it in order for the paint to adhere.  Deglazer has a noxious odor, so be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area.

  • Leather cleaner
  • Deglazer

If your leather has wrinkles, place it under a towel and iron it on low.

  • Iron
  • Towel

tassel-14

DIY painted leather tassels was last modified: October 31st, 2016 by cathiet

You may also like

DIY Wind Chime

DIY Wine Box Drink Stand

DIY Santa Money Holder

Looking for Something?

Get the Latest in Your Inbox

Quotables

  • If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Fresh Start – Quotable #39

  • Fresh Start – Quotable #36

  • "Your best work is your expression of yourself."- Frank Gehry

    Fresh Start – Quotable #38

  • Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. - Henry Van Dyke

    Fresh Start – Quotable #40

  • Fresh Start – Quotable #37

Tweets

  • What a charming tradition to celebrate the beauty of an everyday object - the cup! https://t.co/olGcigAq6C
    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • This week on tinsel + trim is all about unexpected destinations in and around Stockholm, Sweden.… https://t.co/aqqBkDAJWg
    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • This spiderweb tablecloth from @HouseLarsBuilt combines two of my favorite things - Halloween and fabric dyeing, or… https://t.co/bgXQFo1bb5
    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • The cutest guts I ever did see from @followcharlotte! https://t.co/iHjotb6Aed https://t.co/VfSLHJZVwF
    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • Beautiful autumn afternoon making cider with @thosekennedys, @fieldtripsoc, @nashi_orchards. @ Vashon, Washington https://t.co/B1bXBm1Zun
    Reply Retweet Favorite

What I’ve Been Pinning

Unable to load Pinterest pins for 'tinselandtrim'
@tinselandtrim

tinsel + trim on Instagram

No feed
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

@2018 - tinsel + trim. All Right Reserved.