DIY Leather Cord Keeper

On the 9th day of Craftmas, my true love gave to me… a DIY Leather Cord Keeper.

Are you just now finding the 12 Days of Craftmas Series? If so, head over to the 1st Day of Craftmas to learn more.

Who doesn’t have phone or tablet cords laying around? Today, I’m showing you how to make a leather cord keeper with personalization. We use these cord keepers — or “cord tacos” — around the house and in the car to keep wires tidy. They are simple to make, as long as you have the right tools.

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DIY Leather Cord Keeper : Supplies

Olfa Circle Cutter
Fiskars Self-Healing Mat
Walnut Hollow Wood Burning Tool
Walnut Hollow Hot Stamps
Leather Hole Punch
Snap Kit with Fasteners
Leather Scraps

DIY Leather Cord Keeper : Instructions

First, gather the leather for cutting. You can actually purchase leather scraps online. However, I was concerned that the scraps might be too small. Instead, I went shopping at Goodwill for leather items and purchased a pair of black leather pants and a brown leather jacket. If you do this, make sure that there is enough fabric in between the seams to cut out circles that are 6 inches in diameter.

In order to “deconstruct” a leather jacket or pants, cut along the seams with scissors or a rotary cutter. If there is a layer of lining, it will separate from the leather after the seams are removed. You will finish with scraps similar to what is shown in the photo below.

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Next, cut 6 inch circles from the leather scraps using the circle cutter on a self-healing mat. Check the directions on the tool to set the measurement correctly. For example, to cut 6-inch circle, the tool is set to 3 inches. Hold the leather taut with one hand, while using the other hand to rotate the tool.

Use the leather hole punch to put two holes on opposite sides of the circle {see above photo}. The punch should be set to make a hole similar to that of the fasteners’ posts.

Once the circles and holes are cut out, prep the wood burning tool. Attach the first hot stamp letter, and turn it on to warm up. Once hot {about 5 minutes according to directions on the package}, press the first letter into the leather. You won’t need to press very long, because it will burn quickly in the leather. Test this on a few scrap pieces of leather in order to get a feel for how long and how hard to press.

Once the first letter is burned into the leather, turn off the wood burning tool. Then, let it cool for approximately 5 minutes. Once cool, attach the next letter and repeat the process.

Finally, attach the leather snaps. In the fastener set, there will be 4 pieces. While I could try to explain the process to you via images and text, you’ll be better off just watching this video about setting leather snaps. He makes it simple to understand with a good video and narrative.

Cord Keepers are a great stocking stuffer or small gift idea. Choose to personalize the cord wrap, or leave it plain. I used black leather to make some without monograms. It’s a gift that nearly anyone can use because we’ve all got pesky cords for electronic devices. You could make a smaller cord keeper {approximately 3 inches in diameter} for earbuds, too!

There are still 3 more Handmade Gift Ideas in store, from the 12 Days of Craftmas. If you’d like, follow Craftivity Designs on Facebook, where I’ll be sharing the posts each day.