Introduction: How to Make Polymer Clay Look Like Leather

By YouTube Nikita Maree
About: Hello, I'm Niki. I like to make things and save money while I am doing it.

How to make polymer clay look like leather.

By the end of this tutorial you will know all the steps I take

to make my leather polymer clay projects look realistic.

You can really personalize your gifts with these tags
or use them on your own handmade products to add something special to the packaging.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

The basic tools and materials to create the leather effect

are as follows.

  • Brown Polymer Clay
  • Foil
  • Roller
  • Blade
  • Ball Tool
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paint Brush
  • Oven

Additional tools you may wish to use.

  • Letter stamps
  • Flat Blade Screwdriver Bit
  • Cord
  • Needle and Thread

Step 2: Designing

Sketch a few designs on paper.

Step 3: Preparing the Clay

Roll out the clay into a thin sheet.

Step 4: Transfer

Lay the sketch on top of the clay and trace over the design.

Leaving a light impression on the clay.

Step 5: Foil

Scrunch up some foil and then bring it back out to shape.

Step 6: Faux Leather Pattern

Lay the foil over the clay.

Rub a roller over the surface, in a circular motion.

Being sure to push the foil into the clay.

Step 7:

Carefully peel off the foil.

Step 8:

Cut around the shape. Using a flat blade on the straight edges.

And a scalpel on the curved edges.

Step 9: Wording

Decide on what you want to write.

Step 10:

I am using small letter stamps.

As well as some hand written words.

Step 11: Variations

Scrunch the foil less to get a deeper more obvious leather effect.

Use a variety of shapes and different browns to achieve any type of leather effect you are going for.

Step 12: Faux Stitching

Use a flat blade screwdriver bit to create faux stitching.

Step 13: Real Stitching

Or place a row of holes to add in real stitching.

Step 14: Bake

Bake them in the oven.

Keep in mind that every brand of polymer clay bakes at a different temperature and duration.

Be sure to read the packaging of your selected brand.

Step 15: Painting

Using a brown acrylic paint, that is darker than the leather.

Buff that into the low lying cracks.

Step 16:

Using an even darker brown paint in the wording.

Step 17: More on Variation

You can create even more variation in leather looks,

by buffing in different tints or shades of brown.

Step 18: A Fancy Touch

Metallic paint in the wording adds a fancy touch.

Step 19: Cording

Add some cording through the holes.

Step 20: Needle and Thread

Needle and thread for the stitching.

Step 21: Finished

Now that you know how to make your polymer clay look like leather.

You can really personalize your gifts or your handmade products.

Step 22: A How to Video

I also have a short 1 minute video, going over the steps.

If that is something that you are interested in.