Hello from Northern Michigan!
This post is a miracle because the WiFi here is basically non-existent this year. Uploading one photo takes about 10 minutes. The communications company that controls the Internet for this area is basically a one-woman show. When there’s connection issues, my dad calls and says, “Hi Gail, it’s me, Rik.”
Every year when we visit my dad’s cottage in Northern Michigan, we go full summer camp mode–arts & crafts every day. We’ve done a handful of jewelry projects over the years, working with Shrinky Dinks, resin, beads and this year leather/pleather. The result? Earrings and bracelets for days! And they were so easy to make!
Here’s what we used:
36 Assorted Colors PU Leather Sheets – We ordered the big rainbow pack because we wanted lots of colors to choose from (both vivid and earthy) and knew we wanted to make a lot of things, and there’s enough here to make a hundred pairs of earrings and more. There are cheaper packs with less sheets and colors like this one though.
Unfinished Leather Snap Bracelets – We bought a pack at Michael’s but the ones linked here are very similar.
Jewelry Making Supply Kit – So much cheaper to buy it in a kit than to individually buy everything. From the kit, we used the jump rings (to attach the leather “chimes” that dangle on the rainbow earrings), needle nose pliers (to open and close the jump rings) and earring hooks.
Acrylic Paints and tiny brushes (you can use any, but this is the set we have up here)
Craft Glue – We bought a super glue from the craft store that listed leather on the front, but I’m sure there are several types of glue you can use. The glue is for layering leather sheets.
Scissors
A large needle (for poking holes into the leather)
The leather camp bracelets were super easy, even for the little kids. Just paint with acrylic paints and/or permanent markers. We kept the retro camp theme going and painted Hudson Bay stripes and campy patterns.
For the earrings, we did a total free style and played around with cutting shapes, making sure to make two of everything for each ear. Glue works for stacking shapes…
And to make anything dangle, we poked a hole (using the needle) and added a jump ring to connect leather pieces.
We used the needle to poke a hole for the earring hook at the top of our design too.
You can use the acrylic paints to add any additional designs like the polka dots on this 80’s-inspired pair…
…or like the lines and metallic gold background on Lainey’s feather pair.
Lainey wants to make a bunch more to sell at Gary’s table at the Farmer’s Market this weekend. We might be busy.
Why is crafting in the woods so much more fun than crafting at home!?
jeanie says
Fun times in Michigan. I wish we could bring out better weather for you and hope that the clouds go away soon (though I sometimes appreciate them when I’m here for an extended time.) And it’s always good to go jump in the lake when it’s so hot! Have a wonderful time — I love that you do loads of crafts on holiday!
Lindsay says
Cute and fun craft!
Sherri Mitchell says
LOVE LOVE LOVE Lainey’s earring’s!!! SO adorable!