August 24, 2023 Tandy Leather

Reindeer Ornament

This reindeer ornament was designed by Elijah March, Store Manager of Tandy Leather in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since starting leatherwork as a teenager, he follows a steady tradition of making leather Christmas gifts for friends and family. Join in on this tradition, too and start with an ornament, and personalize it to make it unique!

Download the pattern here.

Materials:

1 sq. ft. of Leather 5/7 oz.
1 spool of 1/4 in. Kodiak Lace
1 pack of Small Domed Rivets
Domed Rivet Setter
Precision Craft Knife
Angelus Leather Paints: Black, White, Beige, Light Brown, and Grey Taupe
1 yard of Tracing Film
Craftool Scratch Awl
Angelus Paint Brush Set: 1 wide and fine artist paint brush

Instructions:

Step 1. Trace out the pattern

Case your 5-7 oz. leather with water, and trace the pattern onto the leather with a stylus or Scratch Awl.

Step 2. Cut out the pattern

Use the Precision Craft Knife, but make sure it has a new blade. This makes cutting the leather much easier.

Step 3. Paint it black (on both sides)

Using the Angelus Leather Paints, paint the flesh and the grain sides black.

Step 4. Paint with light brown

Paint the antlers, head, back, chest, and legs with the Light Brown Angelus Paint. Leave the sides and feet black.

Step 5. Paint with the gray taupe

Lightly paint the Angelus Grey Taupe Paint over the brown. After dipping your brush into the paint, wipe it on a piece of paper to remove the excess, then brush the mostly dry paintbrush over the brown, and go a little past it onto the black. Also, accent the antlers to give it some visual texture.

Step 6. Paint with the beige

Paint the tops of the antlers, outline the ears, jawline, and tail. Lightly brush the top of the muzzle, the back of the neck, back, back of the legs and right above the hooves.

Step 7. Paint eyes, nose, and mouth

Using a fine-tip brush and Angelus Black Paint, paint a dot for the eye, and a mark for the nose and mouth.

Step 8. Paint with white

Place the tiniest dot on the forward side of the eye. Also, line the top edges of the antlers, back, stomach and chest in white as well.

Step 9. Punch the holes

Punch the holes where marked on the pattern. The large hole for hanging should be ¼ inch in size.

Step 10. Rivet the lace

You will want to cut a 10 inch strip, a 1 inch strip, and a 3.5 inch strip of Kodiak Lace. The lace is going to wrap around the muzzle, and are going to rivet down on the back. Put the shorter strips on first, but make sure you share the holes where they overlap with the longer strip. Rivet them on with the small domed rivet setter.