I recently teamed up with UGG Australia who is on a mission to help encourage women to find inspiration everywhere and anywhere to take the next step in their lives. What I’m hoping to find now in life is balance, and I’m taking the next step toward that goal every day.
They also asked me to create a DIY to encapsulate that feeling, so inspired by the cute UGG Castille Riding Boots from their Women’s Fall Shoe Line, I conceptualized this fun leather wide waist belt similar to a few I’d seen from the fall runway collections, but put my own twist on it. What’s great about it is that you can use a belt that’s already in your closet and take it to the next step by adding on this fun leather DIY and create a whole new look for it.
What You’ll Need…
This one calls for a LOT of materials, here goes…
* Leather, the thicker the better {though if thicker you’ll need a blade to cut vs scissors}
* Your own belt at least one inch thick
* Muslin or scrap material
* Pen & light pencil or crayon
* Measuring tape
* Needle/Thread
* Possible pliers and thimble {if stitching through the leather to protect your fingers}
* Ruler
* Leather hole punch
* Rotary cutter and cutting mat
* Bead reamer
* Screw back cone studs {you can also choose needle/thread instead}
Steps…
* With your measuring tape, measure you waist and where you wish your new belt addition to begin/end. Go longer than shorter so you can cut away if you don’t like it. Mine turned out a bit short, but I still liked it.
* On your muslin or scrap fabric, mark your length
* Fold your fabric in half to match edges and hand-draw your new belt out.
* Using your scissors and your rotary tool, and with your fabric folded in half, carefully cut out your design.
* Now using it as a pattern, place it on your leather and trace the edges with your light pencil or crayon.
* And carefully cut your design out of your leather. Match up your edges and trim any excess.
* Use your rotary tool or blade to cut out the center. If you leather is thin or flimsy, you’ll need to cut two of these out and glue the backs together to make it stable enough to stay put around your waist.
* Place your belt on top of your new addition and…
* Cut out 4 leather belt “loops”…
* 2 that are narrow but wide enough to circle the back/center of the belt to hold your belt in place. You will hand-stictch them around the belt with your needle/thread and need the thimble and pliers to aid your stitches.
* And 2 a bit wider that will be visible in the front. Using your leather hole punch, create two holes on either end… and using your bead reamer or pen, line them up on your belt front, match and mark the holes, then create the same holes with your hole punch on your belt.
* Pop a screw back up through the hole and with your screw driver, set your cone spikes in place. If you prefer not to use the spikes, you can simple hand-stitch these loops in place.
* Slide your belt through… it should look like this. You can choose to wear the buckle in the front OR the back of this belt, taking it even one step further.
* This is optional, but inspired by the boots I chose, I used my bead reamer to create a similar design that is on the boots.
Voila… Voila!
I like it with the buckle in the back for this look, but it’s cute both ways!
I just lOVE these boots by UGG. In fact, I was in love with a few pairs from their fall line and blown away by the workmanship and quality. I was under the impression that UGG still only made cozy winter boots {that I lived in for a good 3 years along with velour jump suits that may or may not have said Juicy on the back in the early 2000’s} but I was blown away by all the cute styles they offer now. These lovelies are lined with fleece and I’ll be wearing them through fall and into the winter.
Click through the link below to see my favorite styles…
UGG Australia: So Many Cute Styles BEYOND Sheepskin Boots
Have Fun!
This is a sponsored post by UGG Australia
And PSST!! All of the Ugg Australia Boots are cute and totally chic, not to mention comfy!
