How to Make Joann's Fabric Inspired Leather Snap Clasp Tutorial

These don't take a lot of skill to make, they just require some patience.  However the pay off is worth it!

I bought some leather Clasps from Joanne's Fabric and I loved it...However, they were frequently out of stock and, as you can see, there is little variety.

So, I decided to make my own and found out that it is cheaper and soooo insanely awesome!!

Materiels:

Leather strips (Michael's, Joann's, Amazon)

Leather Hole Punch (Amazon, Michael's, Joann's)

Scissors that can cut through your leather

*Grommets/Eyelets (Michael's has large, Joann's has small)

*20L snaps

*Setting tools for snaps and grommets, if they aren't included

Step 1:

I like to start by getting my leather strips, in a variety of colors.

Step 2:

I cut out my pattern.  This can really be any shape and size that you want.  Just figure out what looks good on your wrist and cut it out.  It doesn't have to be perfectly straight or symmetrical.   

Step 3:

Determine the placement of the holes to be punched.  You can use a felt pen to make dots where you plan to punch.  I actually have a pattern that I use to make all my cutouts. 

I cut out the leather using a pair of heavy duty scissors.  Depending on how tough your leather is, you might be able to use regular scissors to cut your patterns.  

Since I am using larger eyelets for this tutorial, I only have 4 holes. However, if you are using smaller eyelets, like Joann's cuffs, then you can make 7 holes.  The Elements eyelets, below, are the exact size of the ones in Joann's cuff.  The are also sold at Joann's.

Step 4:

Punch the holes for the eyelets and the snaps.  Below, is a leather punch.  

It has a wheel that spins and makes different sized holes.  For our eyelets, you'll use size 4.  For our snap holes you'll use size 2.5.  

Line up the punch straight over your hole and squeeze hard.  I usually twist the leather clockwise, while I'm squeezing, to make sure all the edges have been severed.  If they haven't, you can let go and reposition the leather and squeeze again.  

Step 5:

Add your grommets.  The grommets may come with setting tool.  If not, then you'll have to get one that is specific to the size grommets that you are using.  

When you place your grommet, remember that the side that you'll be hammering will not be the side that you want people to see.  You can see the difference between the front and back, below.

Place your grommet, face down on the setting anvil. Make sure your anvil is on a hard surface, like stone..not wood.  I use my garage floor, not my countertops.

And use your rubber mallet to tap the grommet until it is bent to the leather. This doesn't take much force.

Step 6:

Add your snaps.  Make sure you have a stone surface. Again, I use the garage floor. You may have to hammer hard, so I don't recommend using countertops or home flooring.  

I use size 20L snaps and they came with their own setting tools and instructions for which pieces go together.  I have them lined up in 2 vertical pairs, below. The female side is closest to the setting tool (right side). 

I always pull out the pairs of snaps and match them up before I begin, because some pieces look very similar, and it can get confusing.   The button anvil has one concave side (button face/female side), and one flat side (male side).

If you are a beginner, start with the male side, as it is the easiest to attach.  Attach one male side to your leather. The goal is to tap the setting tool until it rolls the metal in the middle down to keep the snap in place.

Step 7:

Attach the female piece.  The button face will be facing down inside the concave side of the anvil.  

Begin tapping the setting tool until you successfully roll the metal shaft down, attaching the snap to the leather.  Swirl the setting tool around, while tapping, to help evenly roll the sides down.

Step 8:

Test out your work.  The snaps should easily snap together and pull apart.  If the two pieces don't snap together perfectly, then you probably need to tap the metal down further , on both the female and male parts.

It takes a lot of hammering, especially on the female side.  Just make sure not to hit too hard or you'll dent the face of the button.  Lots of consistent taps while swirling the setting tool will work.  This part takes practice. 

Leather and Cord Necklace

This necklace is really easy to make and great for casual wear and gifts. It is also a great project to do when trying to use leftover beads.

I have made a bunch of these necklaces and what looks best, in my opinion, is a mix of colored and metal beads.  This one uses blue, pink, red, turquoise, black, hematite and silver.

Leather Strip

Findings:
1MM Waxed Cotton Cord
Suede Leather Strip (any color is fine but I used turquoise)
2 Large Rings
Cording Endings
2 Lobster clasps
*1 Med jump ring
*1 small jump ring
*2 ribbon clasps






*you can just buy a multi pack that has a selection of findings, like this one on Amazon.

Beads:
Multi Color Seed Beads
Silver beads
Hematite Beads

Tools:
Assorted Beading Tools
Beading Board
Candle (yes, any candle will do. Rose scented made the necklace smell nice)

Step 1:

Cotton Cording

Light your candle.
Get your cotton cording and dip the end of it in the newly melted wax. Immediately, pinch the ends of your cord just to tap the wax down.  This will give you a hard tip and make your cord much easier to string.

Step 2:
 String 20 seed beads onto the cord.  Cut off the waxed tip and tie a knot about 1 inch from the top.  Push 5 beads up to the knot and tie another knot on the other side.  Space about an inch and repeat.  Do this 2 more times until you have a string of beads that look like this:



Step 3:
Cut your cord so that you have the one strand.

Seed Beads

Step 4:
Now dip the tip of the wax in the candle again and string 27 more beads of different colors.  Tie knots around 3 groupings of 9 beds like so:


Step 5:
Here is a close up of the necklace.  You can follow the beading as closely as you like.  It is almost impossible to mess this necklace up.  Try any combos that you like.  It is also best if the strands of cord aren't all exactly the same size.




Step 6:
Once you have as many beaded cords as you want, take 2 and secure one end with a small cord ending.  Then do the same for the other end.


Now attach each end to its own jump ring.  Continue to secure cords 2-3 at a time, depending on your cord ending size.  Attach to the jump rings.

PINK!!!

Step 7:
The Suede Leather Strip can come from a sheet of leather (cut it yourself with scissors) or pre-cut cording. When cutting it yourself, it doesn't need to be perfectly straight. Honestly, I just eye-ball it.  Just make sure the widths, at each end, fits your ribbon clasps.

Ribbon and Lobster Clasps

Step 8:
Attach your ribbon clasps and lobster clasps to each end.  The length of the suede cord is really dependent upon where you want the necklace to fall.  Sometimes, I make a couple of these, in different lengths, so I change the length of the necklace, just by changing out this one piece....especially when I'm giving it as a gift!

You have completed your necklace!