Oak Leaf Barrette From Scrap Leather and Copper Wire

I have a big box of leather scrap. There are always loads of odds and ends from various projects.
I'm going to use a scrap of leather left over from my Alien Hand Vanity Tray.

I'm also going to use a length of copper wire that is left from an overly ambitious attempt at making DIY Easy Wire Pendants - I should have started with the easiest one!

This instructable is to make an oak leaf hair barrette which could also be used as a shawl pin.

Step 1: What You Will Need

This is my big box of leather scrap. There are always loads of odds and ends from various projects.
The piece of leather I'm going to use is an offcut from my Alien Hand Leather Coin / Vanity Tray

Supplies:

Leather Scrap (13cm x 6.5cm)
Copper Wire Scrap - about 22cm long
Saddle Tan leather dye (Fiebings)
Saddle Tan Antique Gel (Eco-Flo)
Copper Leather paint (Angelus)
Leather Edge Finish
Acrylic Leather Finish (Resolene)

Tools:

Leather Scissors
Clicker Knife
Swivel Knife
Leather Bevel tool and Backgrounder tools
Leather Edge Slicker
Fine Paint Brush
Round nose pliers
Nylon jaw pliers
Hole Punch
Hammer and Mini Anvil

Step 2: Make a Pattern

Let's start by making an oak leaf pattern.
Sketch out an oak leaf shape making it about 12cm long. Add the vein detail.

Step 3: Transfer Pattern to Leather and Cut Out

Lay your pattern onto the piece of scrap leather to decide how it fits best.

Turn your pattern over and trace onto the back of the leather, then cut out using a combination of scissors and clicker knife.

Step 4: Carve Veins

Wet the top surface of the leather with water. Wait a couple of minutes for it to soak in.

Place your pattern over the wet leather and trace the veins using a stylus.

Carve the veins using a swivel knife.

Step 5: Bevel Along the Veins

Using a patterned beveller stamp tool work along the edges of the veins so they stand out.

Step 6: Add Background

Using small and large background stamp tools add some background texture.

Step 7: Mould to Shape

Wet he leather leaf completely, then shape over a rounded surface (I'm using a yoghurt pot)

Form the edges of the leaf up so it has a slightly curled look.

Leave to dry.

Step 8: Dye the Leather

Once the leather is dry it can be dyed.

I'm using a Saddle Tan oil dye.

Make sure you protect your work area with a piece of old cardboard.

Apply the dye using a wool dauber or lint free cloth. Apply in a circular motion and do the front, back and sides.

Leave to dry.

Step 9: Apply Antique Gel

Using a soft cloth apply antique gel. Remove any excess with a paper towel.

The antique gel goes into the tooled crevices and gives your leather leaf a genuine look.

Leave to dry.

Step 10: Apply Edge Finish

Apply edge finish to the leather edges. Use a wooden slicker tool to slick and give the edges a polished looking finish.

Step 11: Paint the Leaf Veins

Paint the leaf veins with copper paint using a fine brush.

Optionally take a blob and paint and water it down 4 to 1 and then use the watery paint as a wash for the rest of the leaf.

Leave to dry.

Step 12: Apply Acrylic Finish

Get a little acrylic finish (Resolene) in a container and water down 50/50.

Apply to the back and front of the leather leaf.

Leave to dry.

Step 13: Punch Holes

Using a hole punch, punch two holes for the copper hair stick.

Step 14: Form the Barrette Pin

Take your copper wire and form a loop at the end using round nose pliers.

Grip the loop with your nylon jawed pliers and coil the wire until you have a spiral.

Bend into a crook.

Flatten the spiral slightly using a hammer and anvil. Also flatten slightly along the length and particularly at the end.
File the end into a rounded point.

Step 15: Ready to Go

Thread the copper stick through the holes in your leather oak leaf, and you are all ready to go.

Use in your hair or as a shawl pin.