How to Make a Sexy Leather Key Fob (and Learn Basic Leatherworking Skills!)

This leather key fob is easy to make and is a perfect introduction to working with leather. This little dude can be made in a flash once you’ve got all your tools and supplies together. Make one for yourself, your sweetie, your neighbor. Shoot- even your boss would love one of these.

If you’d rather get crafty surrounded by babes in the forest, I’ll be teaching how to make this key-fob at A-camp 8.0 in May.

Supplies:

• Leather/Pleather scrap, at least 8″ long
• Xacto knife
• Ruler
• Mallet or hammer
• Cutting surface
• Leather snap set

Including a stud, post, socket, and cap.

• A trigger clip
• Snap Setter Set
• Leather Punch

1. Using the ruler, Xacto knife, and cutting surface, cut the scrap piece of leather into a 8″ x 3/4″ strip. You may also cut a little snip off of the corners to make it look a bit fancier and rounded.

Now it’s time to mark the snap placement on your leather strip. From one short end, measure 1/2″ in and mark. On this same end, 2″ in and mark. On the opposite side of the strip, measure 1/2″ and mark. See the above photo for reference.

2. Select the punch hole size that matches the circumference of the snap’s post. Punch a hole into each of the snap placement marks on your leather strip.

3. From the right side of the leather, insert the post into the hole made at the 2″ mark.

4. Thread the leather through the trigger clip.

5. Fold the leather strip to insert the post’s shaft into the hole made at the 1/2″ mark.

6. Place the stud on top of the post, with the shaft of the post inserted through the hole in the stud. (You’re allowed to giggle at that.)

7. Place the right side of the post inside the concave portion of your anvil.

Position the snap setter into the tube in the post. Align the snap setter with the post. While holding the snap setter in place, hammer the end of it until the tube of the post meets the cap and is secure.

8. From the right side of the leather, insert the cap into the hole made at the opposite end of the leather strip.

9. Place the socket on top of the cap, with the shaft of the cap inserted through the hole in the socket. The concave of the socket should be facing up.

10. With the concave portion of your anvil facing you, rest the cap inside of the concave.

Position the snap setter into the tube in the cap. Align the snap setter with the cap. While holding the snap setter in place, hammer the end of it until the tube of the cap meets the socket and is securely installed.

See all you cuties at A-camp! Have a fun until then, you deserve it!

Also, big ol’ thank you to Munin Leather for the pattern, supplies, and modeling for this post.