List of Materials:

1. Leather belt – from thrift store or you can purchase a belt blank from a leather supplier. Make sure belt will fit if buckle is removed and end folded over.

2. Belt buckle (if you want to add your own)

3. Rivets and snaps

4. Fabric paints

Tools:

1. Rotary tool with carving bit or carving tools (lino or wood carving work)

2. Leather punch

3. Snap/Rivet setter and hammer

4. Dust mask if using rotary tool

Step 1 – Prepare belt

Remove belt buckle, and paint with acrylic paints. I like using textile acrylics since they remain flexible and won’t crack.

Step 2 – Draw your design

Use a wax pencil or a white crayon to sketch design on your belt. I used a black thrift store belt to demonstrate this step because it was more visible.

Step 3 – Carve

a. b.

Carve your design. A Lino/Woodcutting tool will create rougher/choppier lines (a). A rotary tool with a carving bit will give you more control but will generate dust (b) so wear a dust mask.

Step 4 – Set rivets

a. b.

c. d.

Use leather punch to create holes (a), insert top of decorative rivet to front of belt (b), place back of rivet in place(c), hammer to set (d).

Step 5 – Add decorative touches

Add decorative carving around rivets. I also painted the top and bottom of belt with brown acrylic.

Step 6 – Add snaps and buckle

a. b. c.

Place snaps on belt using the same method as the rivets, except using snap setter (a). Carve fold if you are using a thick belt (b). Snap belt buckle on (c). *You can also use rivets to permanently attach the buckle in place.

Here are some variations…. The black belt is a thrift store find and carved with linoleum carving tools. Learn to make a woodburned belt buckle too!