Step1: Define your parameters, Measure your material, Cut and Mark your leather
Step2: Do your leatherwork using punches and stitch awl
Step3: Treat leather
Design Files
I wanted to see how much I could use the laser to create clean lines and a nice cut pattern for a personal journal or folio. In the photo, I used a recovery theme but you can put any logo or design or prayer you wish. I used 4-5 oz vegetable tanned leather. Looking back, Id have used a different dye for the end product, but it came out ok enough to share here. It gets the point across I hope...
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Step 1: Define your parameters, Measure your material, Cut and Mark your leather
Depending on how big you want your notebook to be, you will want to be mindful of the thickness of the inside leather. It will create a bulk as you can see from my images. Its thick. Too thick? Id say its as thick as Id want it without anything in it. But a homemade notebook does have some bulk in it. Id go a bit bigger next time. You can scale the design however you wish! I have set the cut settlings to be on the black layer with cut parameters for 4-5 oz leather on this machine with tests. You may need to adjust per your machine
Step 2: Do your leatherwork using punches and stitch awl
In my case, I just used a leather punch for partial perimeter and used a stitch awl (good youtube videos taught me that) and I glued the panels down after doing stitching on each layer. Do not attempt to stitch two layers of leather if its too thick. Id put the stitch lines in each layer so its cleaner. I did a leather stamp on the inside layer - I used a leather feathering tool to hammer into wet leather. I did it and let it dry. Then I dyed the final product.
Step 3: Treat leather
I dyed and did a leather waterproofing product used for shoes. Just experimental on my part, but I wanted it to look vintage and distressed. It turned out ok and wanted to share it here!
Depending on how big you want your notebook to be, you will want to be mindful of the thickness of the inside leather. It will create a bulk as you can see from my images. Its thick. Too thick? Id say its as thick as Id want it without anything in it. But a homemade notebook does have some bulk in it. Id go a bit bigger next time. You can scale the design however you wish! I have set the cut settlings to be on the black layer with cut parameters for 4-5 oz leather on this machine with tests. You may need to adjust per your machine
In my case, I just used a leather punch for partial perimeter and used a stitch awl (good youtube videos taught me that) and I glued the panels down after doing stitching on each layer. Do not attempt to stitch two layers of leather if its too thick. Id put the stitch lines in each layer so its cleaner. I did a leather stamp on the inside layer - I used a leather feathering tool to hammer into wet leather. I did it and let it dry. Then I dyed the final product.
I dyed and did a leather waterproofing product used for shoes. Just experimental on my part, but I wanted it to look vintage and distressed. It turned out ok and wanted to share it here!