leather key fob

This really simple DIY is one that I created just before Christmas, and even a beginner can master in no time. All you need is the right tools and a scrap of leather than is long enough to cut out a length of 20cm.

STEP ONE: Cut your leather out, the length doesn't really matter that much just as long its parallel and long enough for your keys to go on your belt. The piece I'm cutting is 20cm long and 2cm wide.

STEP TWO: Make sure your leather is long and thin enough to thread through your two hoops either end and mark a small hole where you want your rivet to go. 

STEP THREE: Now for the super fun part - hammering those holes. I find it quite hard to go through all three layers at once with my punch, so I do the top one, and keep folding it back over to where the next hole should be, marking it out, and hammering. 

STEP FOUR: Now your holes are made, you have to push the rivet through them. This leather is quite thick so I'm using an 8mm long rivet. Then put the top on. Make sure you have the hooks and clips threaded through the leather too. 

Tip: If your struggling to push your rivet through, punch the hole from the same side as the rivet will be inserted. It makes it a little bigger and easier to push through. 

STEP FIVE: Mastering the perfect rivet is a pretty hard process and it can take a few practices before you get it spot on. You need a really hard service. A small piece of solid metal is perfect. The rivet needs to go top down on the metal, and then you just hammer the back slightly till it is perfectly flat and secure. 

And there you have it, all finished and ready for use. This sturdy little key fob wont be breaking anytime soon, and the great thing about this simple DIY is you are able to customize it anyway you like, with paint, a nice light coat of shoe polish or a personal touch like embellishing your name with metal stamps.