Leather Jewelry Making

This post brought to you by Leathercord USA!Sari Wrapped LeatherCord USA Cuffs from @candiecooperTonight finds me with an Eric Church song stuck in my head.  I didn’t even like country music until I met my husband and now it’s stuck in my head?  The things we do for love.

Know what else I love?

Blank leather cuffs!  That’s what I used to make this project for LeatherCord USA–Sari ribbon wrapped cuff bracelets.
Leather Cuffs from LeatherCord USACheck out all the colors and sizes.  You can even pick the snap color.  In my eyes, these cuffs are blank canvases.  The sky is the limit.  I’ve got a list of things I want to try out on them.  You can get some of your own HERE.
Sari Wrapped Cuff via @candiecooperI fell in love with the red brown color and the distressed tan color cuff bracelets.  That’s what I used in the post.
DIY JEWELRY MAKING Distressing leather cuff with a nail fileOne of my favorite art tools is a nail file.  The fine grit makes it perfect for distressing surfaces, like the red brown cuff I have here.
DIY Jewelry Making Sari Wrapped Leather Cuff BraceletYou can embellish it with the sari silk ribbon.  Leather and silk go together like peas and carrots.  I use hot glue to secure the ribbon to the back of the cuff like this…
DIY Jewelry Making sari wrapped cuffNow start wrapping!  It’s worth mentioning that if you don’t have sari ribbon, you can cut strips of silk from a shirt or scarf.
DIY Jewelry Making Wrapping a leather cuff with sari silkAdd other colors and patterns of ribbon on the sides,
DIY Jewelry Making  Coachella Cuff Braceletgluing and trimming as you go.
DIY Jewelry Making  How to punch a hole in leatherThis is a punch especially used for leather.  I got it at Harbor Freight.  It was super cheap and went right through the ribbon.
Sari wrapped cuff bracelet Punching hole for concho in leatherHow about that?
DIY Jewelry Making-  Adding a concho to leather cuffFor a little bit of flare, I’m adding a concho I picked up in Taos.  Did I ever tell you that I went on a road trip with my family across America last summer?  Actually I met them along the way in Albaquerque because I was doing Jewelry Television.   From there, we went to California and back to Indiana.  Basically, I spent 5 days in the car straight with my husband, mom, dad, sister and her kid.  Yeah.  And we still love each other!

The concho has a screw that goes through the leather to attach it.  If you want a permanent bond, you could add epoxy to the screw.

LeatherCord USA deertan lacingTo add a little bit more flare, I added some LeatherCord USA deertan lacing.  This stuff comes in a ton of earthy bright colors as well as various widths.  That’s why I love it.
DIY Leather JewelryYou can knot it like this or knot it on the front and glue the ends on the back like I did for the other cuff.
DIY Sari Wrapped leather cuff with LeatherCord USA green lacingI wore this one today with a blue maxi dress and cowboy boots.  Cue Eric Church…
Sari wrapped cuffsHere’s the link to LeatherCord USA cuffs!
DIY Leather Cuff on @candiecooper

Sari Silk Wrapped Leather Bracelet

Candie Cooper Leather Cuff

Candie Cooper Leather Cuff with Silk

Candie Cooper Leather and Metal CuffsThis is one of my go-to bracelets I made last fall.  Hard to believe it’s been a year since I made it!  It’s comfy, it’s big, and it’s got a touch of sparkle.  I dress it up and dress it down.  It’s simply a leather cuff wrapped in different sari silks and embellished with a concho.

Last night I got home from a week of travel.  It occurred to me that I worked two weeks without a day off and today I find myself absolutely zonked.  Let down.  My guest appearance on Jewelry Television for Beadalon went great!  Thanks to everyone that tuned in.  Bead Fest in Philly was amazing!  I loved it all and will fill you  in more later.  Today I faced the music on chores and taking as many naps as I wanted.  Hubs moved all the furniture and tore the carpet out from the library and dining room while I was gone too.  Needless to say there is much to be done on work and the ranch, but for now I am putting my feet up and that is all.

DIY Recycled Silk Necklace

Candie Cooper DIY Recycled Silk NecklaceHere’s a necklace for my kindred fiber lovers.  I made it for my Craftsy class, Beading with Wire, Chain and Leather.  No matter what the trends are, ribbon is a great way to add a dramatic look to your jewelry.  Admittedly, sometimes I have to say to myself, “Oh Candice, don’t be so dramatic” (unless I’m using ribbon in a design, then all bets are off).  I have a small stash of this ribbon.  Well, I have a stash of lots of craft supplies, but I’m especially proud of this hoard.

Candie Cooper DIY Recycled Silk Necklace 2It is especially fabulous because it’s made from saris.  I bought 6 skeins when I was at Bead and Button this year.  You can buy it online or sometimes at knitting shops and bead shows.  I’m an enabler.Candie Cooper DIY Recycled Silk Necklace 4Isn’t it pretty?  A big rainbow wave.  A color festival all day long.  I used bead caps from Vintaj to wrangle the ribbon ends.

Side note:  My dog, Rocky is on my lap snoring and my husband is on the couch snoring as I write.  Hello exciting Friday night.  Actually, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  We are recouping from the holiday.  I love my family.

Candie Cooper DIY Recycled Silk Necklace 3

The last little detail I wanted to show you is this crystal and wire wrapped key.  I’m obsessed with wrapping wire and crystals around skeleton keys.  It can be a key to your heart, a key to life, a key to whatever you need at that moment.  The crystals make rainbows in the light and I love those winks from the Universe so much.

Let the light in-

Candie