Leather strips are often the scraps left over from larger leather craft projects, or they may be sold in bulk at cheaper prices than larger pieces. Either way, craft projects made with strips of leather are a great way to save some money on leather materials and keep material from going to waste without sacrificing a quality craft project.
Necklaces and Bracelets
Leather strips of almost all kind make great choker necklaces and bracelets. Decorate thick leather with a good acrylic paint, a wood/leather burner or leather carving tools (available at craft stores and leather stores). Thinner, floppy leather, including suede, is good for hanging charms or pendants using either a large jump ring or a leather punch; the latter is best for charm bracelets if you want the charms to stay in place rather than slide around.
Belts
If you have a long strip of leather that is at least 1/8 inch thick, at least 1 inch wide and several feet long, make a belt. Use a leather punch to make large, well-rounded holes (measure carefully to make sure you keep them in the center of the belt) and attach a buckle to the opposite end; this may require carefully shaving down the end of the leather in order to be able to fold it and sew it in place around the buckle.
Weaving
Turn strips of leather into large projects by creating woven designs. Use an over-under lattice weave to create wide patches of leather that you can then put to use in summery designs for items like handbags and the tops of sandals, using your weave in place of larger sheets of leather.
Hilts and Handles
Use strips of leather to create decorative and secure grips for tools, weapons and sporting equipment. Wrap wide strips of supple leather (such as suede) around the handle of a tennis racket or gardening tool, or create a no-slip grip for your favorite kitchen knives.
If you tie wrapped hilts tightly enough, you can secure them at just the top and bottom end with a tight leather tie. For added security, use some leather cement along the edges of each strip.
Leather Roses
Turn small, unevenly-shaped strips of leather into leather roses. Paint the strips in the desired color before you start to ensure even coloring (use acrylic paint), then create roses by curling the strips around each other. Start with a small fold and secure it with leather cement, rubber cement or tacky glue. Wrap additional strips around each other, slightly overlapping each edge.
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