There are many different crafts
suitable for kids, but they love making things they can actually use.
So working with leather is a good idea so is Macrame Beaded Jewelry.
Teens are a curious lot. They want
their independence and yet they’re often afraid to step out on
their own. One way to continue connecting with your teen is through a
shared craft. One craft teens may enjoy is leather tooling. You may
find you enjoy it, too.
Leather tooling is the process of
taking pieces of leather and cutting, pressing or burning it to
create an image or design which can be added to clothing or other
useful items. Think about ornate leather saddles, purses or belts.
Those things were created by leather tooling.
It is important to have the correct
type of leather when tooling it. It generally should be top-grain,
vegetable-tanned and light-colored. Your teen will also need specific
tools with which to work.
Those tools include:
- Awl and spare point
- Retractable craft or X-acto knife with spare blades
- Retractable knife with blade which breaks off
- Rotary punch
- Needles
- Bees wax
- Waxed linen thread
- Pliers
- Scissors
There are other tools you can purchase
when doing leather tooling, but you may want to wait until you see if
your teen wants to continue the craft before spending too much money.
Other tools include edge slickers, bevellers, punches, thong cutters,
t-square, compass and yardstick.
There is an easy way to determine if
the leather you and your teen have accessible to you is suitable for
tooling. You can wet a corner and make a couple of lines to see how
well the leather reacts and holds the lines. It is also a good idea
to put tape on the back of the leather while it is being worked on to
avoid stretching it.
Find designs by looking through pattern
books or a simple picture possibly taken from a coloring book. An
easy design such as a simple flower or leaf will give your teen an
opportunity to try different tooling skills. The design will have to
be transferred to the leather using tracing or wax paper.
Dampen the leather after the image is
transferred. Your teen will then begin creating depressions into the
leather. When they are satisfied with their work, they can allow the
leather to dry and then paint or dye it to complete it. The result
will be a raised surface work of art they can be proud of.
Your teen should be able to find more
information about the particular skills needed for leather tooling at
a craft store. They will have the tools needed as well as books and
other supplies to get your teen started on a new craft they can
continue into adulthood. The internet is another source of
information for learning leather tooling.
