What you’ll need
- Veg-tan leather scrap (approx 8×12 cm+)
- Swivel knife, beveler, backgrounder (basic set)
- Tracing film, stylus, ruler, pencil
- Water + sponge (for casing), granite/marble slab
- Maul/mallet, edge beveler, optional dye/antique
Challenge overview
Design and carve a simple floral, geometric, or initial monogram on vegetable-tanned leather. Keep cuts confident and bevels consistent.
Your goal: one clean, finished carving on a small panel/fob.
Constraints: one design; emphasize line confidence over detail.
Bonus: antique or dye and add light edge burnish.
Constraints: one design; emphasize line confidence over detail.
Bonus: antique or dye and add light edge burnish.
Challenge steps
Stay simple. Clean lines beat over-tooled texture.
1
Draft + transfer
Sketch a small motif. Trace to film; lightly case leather; transfer with a stylus.
2
Cut with confidence
Swivel-knife along lines in one smooth pass. Keep depth consistent.
3
Bevel the design
Walk the beveler just inside cuts to pop edges. Work steadily; avoid chatter.
4
Background & tidy
Light backgrounding if needed. Clean fuzzy cuts with a light recut.
5
Finish
Optional antique/dye; burnish edges; topcoat when dry.
Optional twists
- Monogram instead of a motif (large initial).
- Two-tone dye for depth.
- Turn your panel into a key fob or patch.
Share your carving
Photograph under soft light at an angle to show depth. Add a note about which tools you used most.