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DIY Leather Key Fob Gift Idea with Cricut

By Lydia

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DIY Leather Key Fob Gift Idea via @lydioutloud
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Make a DIY Leather Key Fob for a gift or for a new accessory for yourself! Any of these unique styles can be cut with a Cricut Explore Air or a Cricut Maker! Check out the video or written instructions to make your own!

DIY Leather Key Fobs are a perfect 3 year anniversary gift - the year of leather!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Hey guys! I hope you’re having a great week! I’m gearing up to attend the Cricut Mountain Make-a-thon next week in Salt Lake City and I cannot wait! One of the items we are supposed to bring with us is 1 of our favorite materials to cut with a Cricut. Eeeek how do I choose just one?! I mean, it’s like picking a favorite child! (Too dramatic?) While I haven’t totally decided yet, one of my favorites is definitely the Cricut faux leather; I fell in love with it when I first tried it on my no-sew fall pillow. It came in so handy when I needed a gift idea to make for Ryan for our 3 year anniversary gift (the traditional 3 year gift is leather); I used it to make him a DIY leather key fob. This was such a quick and easy DIY that I made several of them to give as gifts and (one then for me!) The DIY leather key fob can even be personalized by using Cricut pens!

UPDATE: Since I originally made these, I’ve become addicted to making leather keychains with my Cricut! I added some more styles to the bottom of this post that I made with my Cricut Maker. I also made these fun DIY Faux Leather keychains for Dad that you can find here!

DIY Leather Key Fob Tutorial

Supplies

  • Key fob templates
  • Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker
  • Standard grip cutting mat
  • Pebbled Faux Leather sampler pack (I used both the black and blue colors)
  • Faux leather in silver, brown and beige
  • Cricut black pens (optional for personalization)
  • Paper crafting set
  • Clear Gorilla Glue
  • Rivets
  • Key rings

Directions

Open key fob templates in Cricut Design Space.DIY Key Fob Templates in Cricut Design Space

Select your design and set the dial on the Cricut to Custom and select Faux Leather. If you want to personalize your DIY leather key fob then load a Cricut pen into the machine as well and press Go.DIY Leather Key Fob in Design SpacePersonalize a Leather Key Fob with a Cricut machine and a pen!

Here’s how all 3 of the templates look once they have been cut:DIY Leather Key Fobs designed in Cricut Design Space

Note: Although there are 3 different styles, most of the DIY leather key fob instructions will apply to all of them.

Using the Piercer from the paper crafting set, poke holes where the rivet will go. Make the hole large enough for the rivet base to fit through, but it should fit very snugly. Piercing tool with DIY Leather Key Fob

Slide the key ring onto the key fob. Push the longer end of the rivet through all layers from the back of the key fob. Place the rivet top over the rivet base, place the rivet mallet directly on top of the rivet and strike the mallet (I used the rubber handle of a hammer to strike the mallet and set the rivets).
Faux Leather Key FobDIY Leather Key Fob rivet mallet

And that’s it. It really IS that easy!

Brown Leather Key Fob DIYBlue Leather DIY Key Fob

I  used a Cricut pen to personalize one for Ryan with his initials.

The next style is a little different, you will have 3 pieces of faux leather and instead of using a rivet you will secure the keychain with a simple stitch. If you plan to add text to the inside of key fob like I did, select 2 different colors in Design Space (the template is already set up that way) since the back of the key fob will need to be placed upside down on the cutting mat to write on the inside.Tan and Black DIY Leather Key Fob

First, insert the small black faux leather piece into the slot on the front of the DIY leather key fob. Secure it in place with some glue and allow to dry overnight.Anniversary gift DIY Leather Key Fob

Make holes for where you will stitch with the piercing tool.Pierce holes for DIY Leather Key Fob

With a large needle and black embroidery floss, start the stitch on the inside of the back of the key fob so that the knot will be hidden inside.

Bring the needle through the other hole, slide on the key ring and then stitch through the back of the top side of the key fob. Finish the stitch by going back through from the front of the top of the key fob to the inside. Tie in a knot and cut off excess embroidery floss.
Leather Key Fob gift idea tutorial

Add some glue in between the front and back of the DIY leather key fob and hold together overnight (a bobby pin worked great!)Leather Key Fob tutorial

I personalized this one with our anniversary date inside so that it didn’t interfere with the design.3 year anniversary gift - diy leather key fob with anniversary date

Here are a few more styles of leather key fobs I made with my Cricut Maker! You can find the cut files for these designs here.

iron on leather keyfobs

personalized leather cricut key fobs

From left to right:

Monogram Keyfob

Additional Supplies

  • Everyday Iron-on in Silver
  • EasyPress 2

Directions

Use the same supplies and follow the same instructions as the brown key fob above. Cut the iron-on letters for your monogram key fob (remember to mirror!) Weed excess material.

faux leather monogram keychain

Set the EasyPress to 280º F. Position the monogram onto the key fob and press for 30 seconds. Allow to cool before peeling back the iron-on lining.

Mosaic Iron-on Keyfob

Additional Supplies

  • Holographic Mosaic Iron-on in Seaglass
  • EasyPress 2

Directions

Use the same supplies and follow the same instructions as the tan key fob above, except both the front and back of this style is the same color. There are 2 of the smaller pieces to cut, one for the faux leather and one for the iron-on. Cut the mosaic iron-on and weed excess material.

Faux leather mosaic key fob

Set the EasyPress to 280º F. Position the mosaic iron-on onto the small strip and press for 30 seconds. Allow to cool before peeling back the iron-on lining.

Metallic Color Block Keychain

Additional Supplies

  • Everyday Iron-on in Gold
  • EasyPress 2

Directions

Use the same supplies and follow the same instructions as the blue key fob above, except glue this one together instead of using a rivet. Cut the gold iron-on and weed excess.

metallic color block keychain

Set the EasyPress to 280º F. Position the metallic iron-on onto the leather and press for 30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side. Allow to cool before peeling back the iron-on lining.

Which style would you want to make? Pimp your keys! 😉

DIY Leather Key Fob - perfect for a 3 year anniversary gift!

personalized leather cricut key fobs

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Comments

  1. Kellie Grace says

    December 8, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    Don’t see the key fob template in DS – not the one you use

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      December 10, 2020 at 11:27 am

      Hmmm that’s weird! I just double checked it and it shows as public so I’m not sure why you can’t see it!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer Lynn West says

    July 21, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    I think the template has been removed from DS?

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      July 22, 2020 at 12:37 pm

      Hi there! I hadn’t updated it since DS went offline so you should be able to access it now! Sorry about that!

      Reply
  3. Thomas Madinson says

    June 13, 2018 at 1:14 am

    Aww, these are so adorable! I am looking this kind of article blog last two days. I love the minimalist idea to them – thanks for sharing the idea!

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      June 15, 2018 at 10:02 am

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Rhi Lewis says

    February 12, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    These are great, I had a look but can’t finf the key fob template on my Cricut design space, could you tell me where about some it is please?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      March 8, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      Hi Rhi! Did you click on the link for the templates? That should open up in Design Space with the designs already there.

      Reply
  5. Anton says

    November 8, 2017 at 6:16 am

    Great, Key Fob design! This is something I may try to replicate, perhaps as a small inexpensive Christmas gift. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a great cutting machine.

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      November 9, 2017 at 9:15 am

      Thanks so much Anton! Yes they would make great Christmas gifts, so quick and easy to make! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kristy says

    August 9, 2017 at 3:53 am

    aww these are so cute! I love the minimalist design to them – thanks for sharing the idea!

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      August 9, 2017 at 8:29 am

      Thanks so much Kristy! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Emily says

    August 4, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Lydi these are so neat! I like how you personalized them, too. Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday – I’ll be featuring your key fobs at our upcoming party.

    Reply
  8. Megan says

    August 3, 2017 at 10:07 am

    I really need to explore more options iwth my Cricut! Love thes key fobs! #MM

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      August 8, 2017 at 8:30 am

      Thanks so much Megan! I have a ton of fun with mine and am constantly trying new ways to use it! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Paula says

    July 30, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Awesome unique key chain! See you on FB Live!

    Reply
    • Lydia says

      August 8, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Thanks so much Paula!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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Hello! I'm Lydi, thank you for stopping by! I'm a recipe creator (and taster!), beauty product hoarder, DIY-er, Buckeye fanatic and lover of home decorating (and peanut butter).
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