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Hey friends — got another #25DIYsofChristmas project for you today: these boho-inspired wood and leather tassel ornaments!
If you are new here (hi!) as part of the Mixed Media Challenge or didn’t catch my last two posts (here and here), I’m doing a HUGE push this year to make 25 DIYs for the holidays from decor to gifts to recipes. As part of this challenge to myself and the mixed media challenge, I’m trying to work in a few materials I haven’t used before into these projects (aluminum! acrylic! clay! concrete!). Today, I’ve decided to add LEATHER.
I spotted this great camel-colored leather at the craft store as I was grabbing some ribbon for my tree, and I was instantly inspired to make ornaments with it. I thought pale wood and leather tassels might make a good combo, but I figured out the shapes for everything else as I went:
How to Make these Boho Wood and Leather Tassel Ornaments
Materials & Tools
- 1/2″ scrap poplar
- 1/8″ leather cord (I used 2 packages)
- brown leather
- scissors
- superglue
- white wash stain
- pencil
- miter saw
- orbital sander
- sandpaper
- measuring tape
- safety gear (glasses, hearing protection, breathing mask)
- spray paint
- stain
- scroll saw
- drill (or drill press)
- drill bits
- 1-1/4″ Forstner bits
- benchtop disc sander (you can use an orbital sander if you don’t have one)
- clamps
Time needed: 1 day
These easy wood and leather DIY ornaments make a great addition to neutral or boho-inspired Christmas tree decor.
- Cut small squares of wood
I had some scrap 1/2″ thick poplar, so I cut 2-2 1/2″ squares for this project. You can make as many ask you like, but I made 6 squares total.
- Mark ends and centers
Using a random container I had at the house, I used the rounded corners and straight edge as follows: 2 small squares with rounded corners; 2 small squares with 1cm cut off each corner (octagonal shape); 2 larger squares with rounded corners and centers marked. To mark the centers, I just ran a pencil mark along the straight edge from corner to corner, so it crossed in the middle and marked my center.
- Sand corners and surfaces
Using the disc sander and orbital sander, I rounded off the corners and sanded down everything to prep for stain. I also drilled a hole in the middle of the 2 bigger ornaments using a 1-1/4″ Forstner bit.
- Stain
I stained all pieces using Varathane White Wash stain.
- Drill holes at the top and bottom
To make room for the leather strap and tassel, I drilled holes at the top and bottom of each ornament. Tip: start with a small drill bit to center the hole and gradually increase the bit size until it’s large enough; trying to drill with a single large bit might slip more.
- How to make a leather tassel
This step is maybe more complex than the others, but it’s actually very easy! To make a tassel, I wrapped a leather cord around my hand 7 times and then slipped a longer piece (just a few inches) through the top. then, I cut the loop on the bottom and wrapped and glued another cord around the top loop (just a few inches). I slipped the end of the cord underneath to keep it secure, but if it ever comes loose, I’ll add a little bit of glue. With the tassel complete, I inserted the end into the bottom hole of each ornament and glued them into place. Tip: wetting the cord helps to get the bends out from the packaging, and tying another knot at the top (after the tassel is done) makes it easier to glue.
- Create a top loop
I knotted more leather cord for the top holes on each ornament to make a loop for the ornament to hang on the tree. A little dab of superglue holds it in place.
- Cut and glue leather
For the smaller rounded ornaments, I cut out triangular shapes in a piece of leather and glued them to both sides of the ornaments. Done!
Since making the carved ornament set last year, I am glad this has become a DIY tradition (I suppose 2 years in a row doesn’t exactly count, but I intend to do it again, so we’ll go ahead and call it that!). I have one more ornament idea for the year that I’d still like to do, but it’s more complex and I don’t know if I’ll have time with all of the other projects going on! There’s definitely more of 25 DIYs of Christmas yet to come, but if you’re looking for more ideas RIGHT NOW, be sure to check out the other bloggers who are participating in this mixed media challenge below!
Mixed Media DIY Challenge
- Wood and Leather Ornaments – Ugly Duckling House (that’s HERE)
- Antique Sewing Machine Table – My Repurposed Life
- Wood and Acrylic Floating Picture – My Love 2 Create
- Upholstered Metal Bench – Anika’s DIY Life
- DIY Firewood Holder – The Inspired Workshop
- https://addicted2diy.com/?p=9105 – Addicted 2 DIY
25 DIYs of Christmas
This project is part of a series of DIY gifts, decor, and other fun inspiration that I’m calling my “25 DIYs of Christmas“! Check out the list below to see each post (step by step tutorials, recipes, videos, free patterns, and woodworking plans available for each (where applicable). Lots of these ideas have multiple versions to show you the possibilities of each DIY. Even better, you can subscribe to make sure you don’t miss a single post!
These ornaments are a great idea! Thanks very much for sharing!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Karolyn! Thanks for commenting!
Sarah,
Your wood and leather ornaments are so clever. I love projects that use up scraps!
It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I’m really leaning toward the octagon shaped one.
Pinning!
gail
Thanks Gail! I think I’m going to have to create more for a full tree!
Though, I’m late to comment on this page but better late than never. Exactly, it’s a wow idea. I love it, SARAH. Not only this ornament but all of your other DIY ideas also excellent. Like the DIY wooden gift cardholder, the way you did it is really mind-boggling. Thanks for sharing such smart wood craving ideas wilt all of us.