How to Make Stamped Leather Conversation Hearts
I’ve got a really FUN Valentine’s Day DIY project for you today! These stamped leather conversation hearts would make a great gift, especially if you’re looking for Valentine’s Day gift ideas for a guy!
I don’t even know how I came up with this idea, but it was one of those ideas that got stuck in my head, and I just HAD to make it right away. Do you ever get that way with a DIY project?
DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Idea for Guys:
Trying to come up with Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your guy can be difficult. Add the DIY aspect to that, and developing a creative idea can be even harder.
These leather conversation hearts are easy to make and very economical! These conversation hearts are made using pre-cut leather hearts and then simply personalized using some leather alphabet stamps.
The finished product can be turned into a sweet keychain or a fun necklace.
I turned the hearts I made into Necklaces (I’m sooo wearing that LOVE one this month!), Key Chains, and Key Fobs. I think that they’d be adorable attached to a purse handle.
How to Make Stamped Leather Conversation Hearts
Supply List
- Pre Cut Leather Hearts- you can find these at leather stores and online
- A leather alphabet stamping kit
- I also had a Native American leather stamping kit (for the arrows)
- A punch that can go through the leather (like the crop a dile) or an awl hole punch set
- Eyelets, Jump Rings
- Chain and Key Chain or Necklace Chain
- Leather Conditioner to seal the leather when you’re done
- Washi Tape
Step One: Mark a Straight Line on the Heart
To start, I found it easiest to mark a straight line on my hearts with washi tape. It’s not tacky, so it won’t mess up the leather, and it gave me a guide to stamp my letters straight.
Step Two: Stamp the Letters
Start with the bottom row of letters first (if you’re doing two rows).
Begin stamping your letters working from the center out. To do this, attach the die to the stamping tool, and on a hard surface (like a butcher block, piece of heavy granite, or concrete), hit the tool with the hammer 4-5 times.
TIP: Be sure to do a “test” before you begin on a scrap piece of leather
You need to test it first to see how many hits it takes to get a good impression. Just use one of the hearts as your “test” heart.
Step Three: Apply Leather Conditioner
When you’re done stamping remove the washi tape. Using a paper towel apply some leather conditioner to the leather to seal it.
How to Turn it into Keychain:
If you’re making a key fob or key ring, punch a hole in the side of the heart and set an eyelet into it (follow the instructions on the eyelet package). Use jump rings to attach key fobs or keyrings as you like.
How to Turn it into a Necklace
To make the necklaces, punch two holes in the top of the heart (my holes are 1/16”), then feed a jump ring through each.
Loop 30” of chain onto the jump rings and close the jump rings.
You can change the chain length as you like, but I wanted to wear mine long. If you make your chain shorter, you’ll need to add a clasp to the chain to get it on and off your head.
