How To: Dollar Tree Faux Leather Keychain (Cricut Explore Air 2)

 Hey Y'all!

Sorry I skipped Friday's blog. I completely forgot about it. If you're interested in seeing what I've been doing (craft wise) I post to TikTok at least 3 times a week, and most other social media at least twice. You can find all my links here:

 https://linktr.ee/CraftinWife

For today's blog I'm going to create a Faux Leather Keychain using Dollar Tree Leather & Glow-in-the- Dark HTV!!

Supplies:

(All links are direct to product where applicable. None are affiliate links.)

Cutting Machine, I'm using my Cricut Explore Air 2 

Cut File/SVG- I'll share the one I'm using further down the blog.

Cutting Mats (I'd suggest the green standard grip for the HTV even though I used the blue light grip.)

Dollar Tree Leather

Glow HTV

Heat Press/Iron- For this project I've used my Easy Press Mini

Weeding Tool

Adhesive- I've used what I had on hand, which is Heat 'n Bond Tape.

Optional- Brayer, I do like this tool to adhere the leather to the mat.

On with the How To:

1) Open up Design Space, New Project. Search for the type of image you'd like. I went with a tent/camping theme.

The glow in the dark part.

The image I chose!

2) I just wanted a solid color/1 layer images, so I welded this image. (Unite would also work.)

3) The Faux Leather portion is created using offset.

I found the offset at .25 to be a bit large...

So I lessened it to .15 however there is blank spaces that then need contoured out.

Contour is easily done here with the Hide All option.

4) Now to make the keychain part, I used a rectangle- unlocked it and rotated to fit atop the faux leather piece. (In retrospect I could have went a bit thicker here.)

5) Manually line it up until it's centered, or use the align tools at the top of the canvas.

6) Duplicate the bottom leather piece for our keychains backside.

7) Rotate, Flip horizontal, and align all 3 leather pieces.

8) When you have all that looking how you want it to, weld (or unite) the 3 pieces.

9) Grab the top (HTV) piece, and align.

10) Group the images, then size to your preference.

11) We're ready to MAKE it!

Be sure to mirror if you're using HTV, select your material type, and prep your mat.

12) Prep mat #2.

The faux leather does not need mirrored.

13) Begin the cutting process!

*TIP* 

I always check that the material has cut all the way through BEFORE unloading the mat. If it hasn't you can immediately recut the image by clicking the cut button. 

14) Weed the vinyl image- if you have small lettering like I did be mindful about the dot for the "i" and other tiny parts.

15) Get ready for pressing, line everything up!

16) One your heat source is at the correct temperature, press the HTV and leather.

17) Carefully peel the backing sheet off the project.

18) Prep your adhesive, to secure the front and back of the keychain. Be mindful of the loop for the key ring.

19) Adhere your two sides. I'm using a heat activated adhesive, so I need to cover/protect the HTV and heat press them together.

20) Add your keyring.

20B) Admire your work!

Questions? Leave them in the comment section below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife