It is easy and inspiring to cut leather strips into into jewelry basics and ornamental elements!
Create leather components using a portable rolling machine, either:
- #69-324 Big Kick and the Jewelry Studio Conversion Bundle
- #69-500 The Jewelry Making Studio
Familiarize yourself with your rolling machine, first. To use Movers and Shapers Magnetic dies using your Big Kick machine, you will need the Shuttle from the Conversion Bundle and the Cutting Pad from your Big Kick.
Read and follow the instructions printed on the shuttle, first! Before rolling, layer your items:
- Cutting Pad (top) Note: We sell replacement pads if yours are worn out!
- Leather (smooth side down)
- Die (foam side up, magnet side down)
- Shuttle (bottom)
Steel-Rule Dies are for creating basic jewelry shapes from cowhide (thick) leather. Steel-Rule Thinlit Dies are for cutting ornate shapes from sheepskin (thin) leather. The die will cut into the pad as it cuts the leather, do not be alarmed, this is normal. Tight, careful layout of your leather when cutting will yield the most pieces per strip.
Plan how you will assemble your design. Leather glue and cold connections are most commonly used. If you are new to riveting, please refer to our technique sheet on cold connections for tips and instructions . It is important to securely rivet items to a strong foundation. This can be a sturdy leather bracelet, or a metal blank used as a backing.
We recommend having a selection of rivet accents or metal heishi beads, sized to fit your rivets/eyelets on hand. They may be required to create a valid connection; either as a shim to fill space, or as an anchor to prevent rivet from pulling through the leather.
Illustrated step-by-step instructions and additional tips can be found in the Jewelry Studio Booklet by Sizzix. Have fun using your portable rolling mill!
No Comments