Keychain projects are endlessly fascinating, aren’t they? If you’re captivated by the world of DIY keychains, then you’re in for a treat with this guide on creating your own Leather Key Fob Keychain. These aren’t just any keychains; they’re stylish, customizable, and surprisingly easy to make, even if you’re working with scrap materials. Perfect for personal use or as thoughtful handmade gifts, leather key fob keychains add a touch of personalized elegance to everyday carry.
While this guide will reference the Cricut machine for cutting precision, the beauty of this project lies in its adaptability. The shapes for these keychains can be cut with a standard fine-point blade, meaning you can use a Cricut Maker, Explore Air 2, or even a Cricut Joy (with a 12-inch mat). No matter your crafting setup, a stylish leather key fob keychain is within your reach.
Ready to dive into the world of leather key fob keychains? Let’s gather our materials and get started!
Materials You’ll Need to Create Your Leather Key Fob Keychain
To embark on your leather key fob keychain crafting journey, gather these essential materials. Having everything at hand will streamline the process and make the creation enjoyable.
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Cricut Strong Grip (Purple) Cutting Mat: This mat is crucial for securely holding your leather or faux leather in place during the cutting process. You can find these mats at craft stores like Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Joann’s, and Walmart, as well as online marketplaces like Amazon.
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Blue Painter’s Tape: An invaluable tool for ensuring your material stays firmly adhered to the mat, especially when working with leather or faux leather. Find it at hardware stores, grocery stores, or online at Amazon.
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Leather or Faux Leather: The star of the show! Choose leather scraps or faux leather in your preferred colors and patterns. For faux leather options, consider exploring shops like this Etsy shop for a wide variety of textures and designs. Avoid chunky glitter faux leather, as it tends to shed glitter. Genuine leather scraps from craft stores or online suppliers will also work beautifully, adding a touch of luxury to your leather key fob keychain.
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Weeding Tool or Sharp Object: Essential for lifting and removing the cut pieces from the cutting mat. A weeding tool from a Cricut tool set is ideal, but any sharp object will do.
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Faux Suede or Leather Tassels (Optional): Add an extra flair to your leather key fob keychain with a tassel. Amazon offers diverse tassel assortments in various colors.
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Two Pairs of Flat Nose Pliers: These are crucial for securely attaching the key fob hardware. Baby Wubbers Chain Nose Pliers and Baby Wubbers Flat Nose Pliers are highly recommended for their precision.
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Key Fob Hardware: The hardware is what transforms your leather strip into a functional keychain. You can purchase these in bulk online or at craft stores. Ensure they match the width of your keychain design (1 inch or 1.25 inches).
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Free SVG File: Access the free SVG cutting file for the keychain shape from a resource library (like the original article’s resource library mentioned). This file provides the precise shape for your Cricut to cut.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Leather Key Fob Keychain
Follow these detailed instructions to craft your own stylish leather key fob keychain. Each step is designed to be easy to follow, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable crafting experience.
STEP 1 – Download the Free SVG File
Begin by downloading the free SVG cutting file, which contains the keychain shape. Access the resource library mentioned in the original source (usually through a password obtained by signing up for a newsletter). Save the zipped folder to your computer and remember the location for easy access.
Unzip the downloaded folder to extract the SVG file. This step is crucial as Cricut Design Space requires unzipped files for upload. Note the extracted file location for the next step.
STEP 2 – Upload SVG to Cricut Design Space
Open Cricut Design Space and start a NEW PROJECT. On the left-hand menu, click UPLOAD.
Click the UPLOAD IMAGE button, then BROWSE to locate the unzipped SVG file on your computer.
Double-click the SVG file to upload it to Design Space. If you encounter an “unsupported file type” error, ensure you’ve selected the correct file and that it’s unzipped.
You’ll see a preview of the leather key fob keychain shapes. Click the green SAVE button to proceed.
After saving, the uploaded file will appear in your “recently uploaded designs.” Click on it to select it (it will be outlined in green), and then click INSERT IMAGES in the bottom right corner.
STEP 3 – Prepare the SVG for Cutting
The SVG file contains two wristlet shapes: one inch wide and 1.25 inches wide. Choose the shape that matches your key fob hardware width and hide or delete the other shape. Your Design Space canvas should now display your chosen keychain shape.
IMPORTANT: Do not resize the rectangles. If they upload at an incorrect size, select both shapes and set the height to 11 inches, ensuring the padlock icon is locked to maintain proportions.
For enhanced durability and a polished look, consider adding a backing material to your leather. While the original tutorial uses heat transfer vinyl, you can adapt this step using thin fabric or even another layer of leather for a more robust leather key fob keychain.
Click the green MAKE IT button in the top right corner to proceed to cutting.
The mat preview screen will show the shape’s placement on your virtual cutting mat. Adjust the position if needed to utilize a stickier area of your physical mat.
Click CONTINUE to select your material settings. For leather or faux leather, the “Faux Leather (Paper Thin)” setting is generally effective. Select this setting and choose “MORE” pressure for a cleaner cut.
For Cricut Explore Air 2 users: Turn the Smart Set Dial to “Custom” and select “Faux Leather (Paper Thin).” Use the Fine Point Blade. For Cricut Joy users: Use the 12-inch cutting mat.
STEP 4 – Applying a Backing to Your Leather (Optional but Recommended)
This step enhances the edges and durability of your leather key fob keychain. Cut a piece of thin fabric or a secondary piece of leather slightly larger than the keychain shape. If using fabric, place it behind the leather piece. If using a second leather piece, you can choose a contrasting color or texture for a unique look.
[If using Heat Transfer Vinyl as in original tutorial:] Place the leather and heat transfer vinyl back-to-back, with the pretty side of the leather facing out and the shiny side of the vinyl facing out.
Place the leather and backing material on a heat-pressing pad. Cover with a Teflon sheet or parchment paper. Press with an EasyPress Mini (lowest setting), a regular EasyPress, or a low-heat iron (no steam) until the backing is fully adhered to the leather.
Carefully peel away the backing material’s cover sheet (if applicable). If bubbles appear, replace the cover sheet and press again. Ensure complete adhesion.
Once the cover sheet is removed, replace it and press again for a few seconds to ensure a smooth finish.
STEP 5 – Cut the Leather with Your Cricut
Place your leather (pretty side down, backing side up if you applied one) on the purple StrongGrip mat in the position shown on the Design Space mat preview.
Ensure the white star wheels on your Cricut are moved to the side to avoid marking the leather.
Secure the leather to the mat on all sides with blue painter’s tape. Load the mat into the Cricut and press the “C” button to start cutting.
After cutting, use a weeding tool to lift a corner of the cut shape and check if the cut is complete. If not, press the “C” button again to repeat the cut without unloading the mat. Repeat as needed.
Unload the mat and remove the cut leather key fob keychain shape. Press again with a cover sheet to smooth the edges, especially if you used a backing material.
To refine the edges further, especially if using faux leather with visible white edges, use Sharpie markers to color the edges for a finished look.
STEP 6 – Attach the Key Fob Hardware
Fold the cut leather shape in half, aligning the ends.
Insert the folded leather edges into the jaws of the key fob hardware. Use pliers (often included with the hardware) to firmly clamp down until the jaws close securely onto the leather.
Optional: Add a tassel for extra style. Open a jump ring, slide on the tassel, attach it to the key ring, and close the jump ring.
Your leather key fob keychain is now complete!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Leather Key Fobs
- Leather Selection: Experiment with different types of leather for varied textures and finishes. Thinner, garment-weight leather is easier to work with for key fobs.
- Hardware Choice: Select high-quality key fob hardware for durability and a professional finish. Consider different finishes like gold, silver, or antique bronze to match your leather.
- Customization: Personalize your leather key fob keychain by adding initials, monograms, or small designs using heat transfer vinyl before cutting.
- Edge Finishing: Beyond Sharpie markers, leather edge paint or edge beveling tools can provide a more refined edge finish, especially for genuine leather.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t flawless. Crafting is a learning process, and each leather key fob keychain will be better than the last.
Conclusion
Creating your own leather key fob keychain is a rewarding and enjoyable DIY project. Whether you use faux leather or genuine leather, the result is a personalized and stylish accessory that’s perfect for keeping your keys organized or gifting to friends and family. With a few simple steps and readily available materials, you can craft a leather key fob keychain that reflects your unique style and creativity.
Share your creations! If you make these leather key fob keychains, we’d love to see them. Tag us on social media to show off your handmade style.
