Leather Belt Bracelet

A while back I was shopping in Old Colorado City.  I cannot remember the name of the store, but it's on a corner, and they only sell girls clothes and accessories.  Anyway, I caught a glimpse of a leather bracelet that I thought was super cute!  I of course showed my husband who said I should just get it.  I looked at the price and it was $30.  Not too bad, but I have been on a huge crafting adventure, so I of course told him I was not spending that, and I could make it myself.  Well, several months went by, and I still did not make it...  I was in another store in Manitou Springs, and saw another bracelet similar to the one mentioned above.  Again, the hubby told me to buy it, and I of course said I would just make one.  Well, I finally did!

Turns out it was kind of a pain in the you know what to figure out!  I knew I could do it out of an old leather belt, which I just happened to have.  Cutting it is surprisingly easy, as I was able to with just some really sharp scissors.  I sanded the cut edges with some sandpaper I had lying around.  I was able to drill the holes for the snaps.  Turns out you can make 3 or 4 just from 1 belt!  Now here comes the pain in the you know what part...  I needed to add a snap.  OK, sounds easy, right?!  Not for me!  I went first to Hobby Lobby, and even asked a sales person if the snaps I was purchasing would do the job, which of course I was told "yes."  Well, it's a little more complicated than that.  

There is at least 1 tool you need to by.  There is not much on the internet about how to do this (no easy instructions that I could find), so after about 4 more trips to several different craft stores, buying serveal different tools, stumping sales associates, and going through very misleading You Tube videos, I finally figured out how to install my snaps.  And no, I did not by a $100 leather snapping tool as recommended by 1 video.  I was able to install them with snaps that came with a tool (cost about $6), and my hammer.  So, here it is.  My very own leather bracelet, made from an old belt!