Put Your Name On It: Easy DIY Leather Bracelet

Happy Monday, friends!  My daughter finally started preschool late last week (I know some areas have been back for a month or more, already) and she asked to make a new bracelet to wear on her first day.  (Be still my accessory-loving heart!)  She has been ROCKING her letters already, so she was immediately drawn to some metal letter slider beads I had in my stash.  She spelled out her name, chose some pink leather, and we put this sweet bracelet together in about 5 minutes.

Unlike most of my leather bracelet designs I like to share, this one uses NO glue.  Which was important with a little one “helping” me, not to Super Glue anything to anything (or anyone).  I used crimp-on ribbon ends to finish the ends of this bracelet, and we used several strands of 2mm leather together to make a textured band.

I’ll leave a few affiliate links to the products I used below, so that if you want to go shopping, it’s easy to find the right components for this project.  You can, of course, use whatever components you like!  The links below are just for your convenience.  Here’s what you will need:

• 5 strands of 2mm round leather to fit your wrist*
• alpha sliders for 10mm leather
• 2 – 3/8″ (10mm) crimp-on ribbon ends
• 2 – 6mm jump rings or split rings
• 10mm lobster clasp
• chain nose pliers
• leather cutter

*Leather measurements will be different for everyone.  For a woman’s wrist, I typically cut the leather between 6.5-7 inches (adding the rings and clasp will add approximately 3/4 inch finished length).  For my 4-year old, 4.75 inches of leather was appropriate for a 5.5 inch total length bracelet.  Just remember that you will be multiplying this number by 5.  The good news is, 1 yard or 1m of leather are a great length to cut into 5 pieces for a woman’s wrist.

First, crimp a ribbon end onto all of your 5 strands.  You can do this with your pliers!  I find that squeezing in the middle first, then crimping each side is the best way to get a really secure grip.

When you have one end crimped, slide the letters or shapes onto all 5 strands.  It may be a snug fit – which is a good thing!  It means your sliders won’t slide around too much.  Then, straighten all the layers as much as possible, and use your leather cutter or a very sharp pair if scissors to cut the strands to an equal length.  Crimp the other ribbon end on.

Finally, finish each end by attaching a jump ring or split ring.  Because this is for my highly active daughter (haha) – I used split rings.  That way, if it takes some abuse, the rings won’t open.  Split rings work just like keychains – they’re a double ring that you slide on.  If you have trouble opening them, they also make a split ring plier that helps open up the edge of the ring.   Be sure to add a lobster clasp to one of the rings to finish the bracelet!

I know there are some out there not comfortable with putting their kids’ names on things, being a security risk, but her preschool is already on lockdown until we drop her off and pick her up directly from the teacher, so allowing her a fun piece that reinforces letter recognition is something I really like the idea of.  Don’t forget – instead of a name, you can always make this design up with a word from your favorite hobby, or something inspirational!

Hope your week is a great one and I’ll see you guys again soon!