DIY Network

Leather Belt Get started in leatherwork with your own belt. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-113

Show off your style with a leather belt you make yourself.

Belts are a great starter project if you're new to working with leather—they're small, they're simple and everybody needs one. Work alongside B. Original host Michele Beschen and create a belt that matches your personal style.

You don't necessarily need leatherworking tools for this fun project: There's more than one way to decorate a belt. Scroll down for Michele Beschen's easy how-to, and get started with your own first leather project.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Leather Belt

• Purchase a belt blank at a leathercraft store or via the Internet.

• Fit your belt blank. It's important to do this first, so you can place your design properly. The easiest way to do this is by using a belt you already own and that you know fits. Lay out the blank on a flat work surface, then lay out the existing belt on top of it. Mark the length of the belt with a craft knife (figure A), and use an awl to mark the placement of the holes.

• Use a craft knife to trim the belt blank to length and round off the end of the belt. Use a leather punch to punch out the belt holes (figure B).

• Design your belt—the options are wide open. Michele Beschen used a woodburning tool to embellish her belts for this project: They're easy to use, and the effect looks great on brown leather (figure C).

• You can add color to the belt as well, with acrylic paints, special paints formulated for leather and even leather dyes. If you use dyes, apply several thin coats to get an even color. Or, you could apply the dye in streaks for an antique look.

Belt Buckles

Cool buckles offer another opportunity to dress up a custom belt. You can purchase buckle blanks at leathercraft shops or via the Internet.

You can tool and embellish leather buckle blanks the same way you did your belt. Or, use contact cement to adhere a thin piece of leather to a metal buckle blank and embellish. Since the buckles snap on and off your belt, you can make one to go with every outfit.

Custom buckles can be as fancy as you like.

There's no limit to the possibilities.