HP Create: Custom Leather Key Fobs

T-shirt transfer sheets are really fun to work with and open up a lot of new possibilities for making personalized and custom gifts. One of my favorite uses is transferring images to leather. There are lots of different leather gift ideas to make from jewelry to business card cases, all using scrap leather. I use leather cut from thrifted purses and jackets, or outdated swatches from furniture companies. In this project, I’m going to walk you through making an item that can be used every day- a key fob, like the one above I carry with an image of my kids. It could also make a great gift for other family members. Gift custom and personalized key fobs as:  Party favors  New car or new home gift  Parent and grandparent gift  Teacher gift  Gift exchange item  Stocking stuffers for the holidays Materials:  HP Officejet Pro 8600 AiO Printer  HP Bright White Inkjet Paper  HP Iron-on Transfer sheets  Iron  Images to transfer  Printed key fob template (see attached)  Split-ring key rings

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Sewing machine, thread Scissors Craft knife Adhesive

To Make:

Step 1 Download and print the free key fob template (see attachment below). If you are a bit savvy with digital image editing, you can use the templates to mask your images digitally before printing as I have. Here are some images I crafted my fobs with. Many of the graphic images shown can be found on the FREEBIES page of my blog. Or, use existing digital images you own or have scanned and size to fit the main area of any of the shapes in the template.

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Step 2 Use a craft knife to cut out individual fob shapes.

Step 3 Print your image of choice onto HP Bright White Inkjet Paper to confirm that it will fit as desired within the shape of a template design. Use the template to determine the size of leather you will need to cut. Following manufacturer’s directions, print your image(s) to the T-shirt transfer sheet. It’s a good idea to print extra in case of any project mishaps.

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Step 4 Iron on to the smooth side of the leather based on the T-shirt transfer directions. If your leather is too shiny, you may need to iron onto the suede side if the nap is not too textured.

Step 5 Use the template to trace the shape around the leather transfer. You can see that my leather piece was a furniture store swatch sample that had large grommet holes. Since there is no weave to leather, you can position your templates at any angle.

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Step 6 Cut out the image-transferred leather just inside the line mark. Or, if using digitally masked templates, cut along the edge of the graphic.

Step 7 Fold the top section over and use a small amount of adhesive to secure the very tip of the flap to the backside of the fob. When the glue has set, sew across the top section forward and in reverse.

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TIP: Use longer rather than shorter stitch settings when sewing leather to avoid perforating the material. You may also opt to use the zigzag stitch option in place. Both stitch techniques work nicely for this project.

If you don’t have a sewing machine, simply pierce two small side-by-side slits ¼ inch apart with a craft knife into the neck area of the front of the key fob and into the folded over piece. Thread heavy nylon button thread through the holes multiple times and tie off well on the back side to secure.

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Step 8 Feed the split ring key ring through the folded section of the top section to finish off your key fob.

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Double-Sided Key Fob

Step 1 Use a small amount of adhesive to secure a section of leather to the back of your cut-out with a straight edge placed at the base of the top fold-over section. (You might also choose to line up a section of leather with another image transferred to it, creating a fob with a design on both sides.)

Step 2 Fold over the top section and tuck it down in between the two leather pieces. Beginning at the bottom, stitch around the outer edge of the leather, catching the folded section at the top and continuing around to overlap the beginning stitches.

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Step 3 Trim away additional leather from the back piece.

Step 4 Thread a split-ring into the loop and you’re done! Here are some other fun fob versions that you can create and customize with your own flair!

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Embellished Key Fob

Step 1 Hand stitch jewelry and craft store embellishments to the design side of the leather piece, then follow the previous instructions for creating a double-sided key fob to hide the raw backside stitches. Step 2 Thread a split-ring into the loop. Attach a charm to the split ring if desired.

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Loop Key Fob

Step 1 Use the elongated template to create your design. Once the image-transferred leather has been trimmed out, fold the bottom back and up and sew, catching the fold-over top section in the stitching. Step 2 Thread a split-ring into the loop.

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Having fun customizing your fobs? Here are some additional design ideas that you can play around with:        

Type initials onto the design before printing to create a monogram. Transfer favorite photographs of family, pets, cars, house, or nature. Scan and use a favorite fabric pattern. Craft your own custom luggage tags. Scan and print a favorite painting, children’s artwork, or needlecraft. Make a key fob of your favorite book or music CD cover. Design custom fob shapes like a flower or star, or cut out around an image like a favorite character. Create custom logo promotional gifts.

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Here are the key fobs I created!

What image or graphic would you use for a custom leather key fob? I would love to read your feedback on this project or ideas you have for other similar projects in a comment on this post. If you make this project, please share them in our Idea Exchange! Feel free to also share this free printable project on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thank you! -Cathe

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