Today I am sharing my latest DIYVintage Brooch Cuffs!It's a simple project that can have a large style impact
and
give new life to some treasured pieces!
I have been collecting Vintage Brooches for years now. I have found many at flea markets,some have been treasured giftsandeven some I have made from Christmas ornaments!
I have used many in some fantasticSignature Statement
Vintage Brooch Necklaces
I have a DIY
Here
But this year seeing all of the cuffs out right nowgave me a new idea to give some of these beautiful Vintage pieces new life!
I have used them singularly for fantastic
Vintage Boho Cuffs!
I am just loving the mix of the Boho leather influencewith the vintage pieces!Making these cuffs a style statement piecefor any years to come!
And even betterthis is a quick DIY once you have your supplies sourced!
I started with a brass cuff base.You can find these online from jewelry finding suppliersor simply repurpose any cuff you have on handor
find one in an inexpensive accessory store.
I cut leather strips from a thrift store skirt.You could also cut strips from a leather chammy that you can find in car cleaning supply departments.I have gotten some at even Target in the past.Or there is always the fabric store or leather supplier.
I simply cut one inch strips to wrap around the cuff base.Leather is fabulous not only for the aesthetic and texturebut also since the edges won't fray!
Before I started wrapping the cuff I cut two small rectanglesto finish off the side edges of the cuff.The dimensions of these pieceswill depend on the size of your chosen cuff.
Simply wrap the sides of the cuffto create a clean edge
folding the extra on the cuff inside.
Once the sides were coveredI simply wrapped the cuff with the leather stripshot gluing as I went. I wanted an imperfect boho feelso I wasn't too worried about the spacingbut doing a tidy job with the glue gun is really important!
Any of the ends were finished off inside the cuffkeeping the exterior of the cuff the focal point and finished.
The next step is an important one.
Securing the Brooch to the cuff.
Once you have your chosen pieceyou need to secure it tightly to your leather cuff.
I hate to impact the backs of some of my better broochesso I try not to cut off the pinand
just work around the pin back.
If you are using a brooch you are comfortable removing the pin backit will make the securing much easier.I find a good pair of clippers will remove the pin back easily.
Now I take some 24 gauge wireand almost sew around the piece
front to backin an attempt to get a tight centered pointwith the wire.A secure center point with the wireis what is going to allow you to secure it to the cuff.
This is the only somewhat tricky part of the projectas each Brooch is entirely different.I think of the wire as thread and sew around the pieceback to frontin the most invisible way possibleall the time woking towards a center point to end up.
It is best to get to a center point with two doubled wiresand
the take the two in separate directions
once a secure center point is obtainedthis is how you will 'tie' the Brooch to the cuff.
Find the center of the cuffand simply tie the Brooch to the cuff on the backtwisting the wire to get a tight, secure Brooch placement.Once this step is completesimply twist the two ends together and
press the wires firmly flat on the back of the cuff.
The final finishing step is to take one more strip of leather to cover the exposed wiregluing it in the front
under the brooch
and
then covering inside the cuff with the same strip.
Make sure you finish your cuff
by removing any stray glue hairs.
That's it!You know have a one of a kind Vintage Brooch Cuff!Sure to be a Style Statement piece for years to come!
As always my friends
I wish you love and joyas you style your life