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Learn how to make a Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychain with a Cricut

This project is Day 9 of The 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Event!

I’m Amy Romeu, and in this tutorial I’ll be showing you how to make a cute mini purse with faux leather and a Cricut, perfect as gifts or stocking stuffers.

You’ll love making this stylish faux leather mini purse with a festive holiday theme in this fun, beginner-friendly Cricut tutorial!

Follow along with this written tutorial including all the materials, SVG files, and tips you need.

Ready to get started with this beginner friendly holiday Cricut craft tutorial?

Let’s dive into the materials and steps!

Want to watch a video tutorial instead? Check it out below!

How to make a Faux Leather Mini Purse with a Cricut Step by Step

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Materials you’ll need to make a Faux Leather Mini Purse with a Cricut

🛒 To shop many of these supplies below in my Amazon storefront, click here. 🛒

Step by Step Instructions

After all the mat is mirrored, drag the shape apart from the edges a bit.

Drag the handle and bottom shapes around as needed to be sure they will fit on the piece of faux leather you are using.

Click the CONTINUE button.

When the material selection screen loads, click on the faux leather mat and then select the Faux Leather (Paper Thin) setting.

If you don’t have that setting bookmarked as a favorite like I do, you can click on Browse All Materials and search for it. (If you are using the Explore Air 2, you’ll need to turn your dial to Custom before you can find that setting in search.)

Then choose “More” from the dropdown Pressure menu.

Step 3: Cut your faux leather mat.

Place the faux leather pretty side down (HTV side up if you did that step) on a purple strong grip cutting mat.

Place blue painter’s tape around all sides of the faux leather. Load the mat into the Cricut and begin the cut.

When the cut is complete, before unloading the mat, lift a small edge of the cut to ensure the cut went through. Repeat the cut if needed by pressing the cut button again.

Once the shapes are cut through, remove the shapes from the mat.

Use a sharp weeding tool to poke out the holes in the faux leather. Use small curved scissors or embroidery scissors to trim out the holes or trim up any fuzzed edges as needed.

Step 4: Assemble the materials for the assembly portion.

You’ll need Size 20 Kam Snaps and Kam Snap Pliers, 6mm Rivets and the rivet tools included in the package, and some fabric or craft glue.

Once you’ve cut the pieces, it’s time to assemble the purse. Start by adding rivets. The larger holes in the pattern are for the rivets, while the smaller holes are for the snap.

Insert six rivet posts through the pre-cut holes from the inside of the purse so that the posts are sticking out.

Place a small piece of blue tape over the posts on the inside to keep them from moving as you work.

Now you’re ready to attach the handle. Insert the handle into the inside holes on the lower part of the pattern, using two more rivet posts and caps on the inside holes to secure it.

Use a hammer along with a strike plate and plastic tool to hammer down each rivet and hold it in place.

To do that, place the strike plate on your work surface with the flat side up, Then center one of the rivets on top of the strike plate.

Place the concave end of the plastic tool down on the rivet. Hammer 5-7 times on the flat end of the black tool to hammer the rivet tight.

Repeat with the other end of the strap.

Step 5: Next we will apply the rivets to the back of the purse.

Start by folding the small side flaps in. Then fold the front of the purse up.

Next fold the front side flaps around to the back.

Place the three holes on the side flaps over the three rivet posts sticking up through the back of the mini purse.

Repeat with the other three holes on the other flap.

Place a rivet cap onto each rivet post. Push down so they catch the post and won’t come off.

Place the strike plate inside the purse underneath the first rivet. Repeat the process of hammering each rivet tight using a hammer and the rivet tool.

Finish hammering all 6 rivets into place. Then remove the blue painter’s tape inside that was holding the rivet posts in place.

Step 6: Next we will apply the Size 20 Kam Snaps to the flap and inside of the purse.

NOTE: The Kam Snaps for this project are the regular length, NOT “extra long” because we are pressing them onto one layer of faux leather only.

Refer to the Kam Snap directions guide included with your Kam Snap set. I’ve also included a copy in your download folder.

Look for the four elements you need and take them out of the Kam Snap box. Lay them on your work surface in the order shown on the guide: 1 Cap, 1 Stud, 1 Socket, 1 Cap.

The inside of the purse will have a CAP on the inside and a SOCKET on the front.

The flap of the purse will have a CAP on the outside and a STUD on the inside.

Place one cap on the outside of the purse flap, push it through the pre-cut hole, and add the stud on the inside.

Use Kam snap pliers to press down and secure the snap. Remember you can watch the YouTube video tutorial for this project to see this process in action.

Repeat on the inside of the purse, this time with cap coming up from the inside of the purse front and the the socket facing the flap on the front. This way the snap clicks into place when folded.

Press and squeeze with the Kam Snap pliers.

Check that your purse flap will fold and snap correctly.

Step 7: Now it’s time to glue the purse bottom into the purse. I used Beacon Fabri-Tac.

You can either place glue on the back of the flap or you can place glue inside the bottom of the purse and press down.

That’s it! Your Faux Leather Mini Purse is complete. Here’s another look at two different holiday print variations made with the SVG template. Which one is your favorite?

Answers to your questions about making a Faux Leather Mini Purse with a Cricut

Q: Which Cricut machines will cut faux leather?
A: You can cut faux leather with any of the current Cricut machines because they all cut faux leather with the standard fine point blade included with each machine. For this project you can use the Cricut Maker, Cricut Maker 3, Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Explore Air 2, or the Cricut Joy Xtra. This project is too large for the Cricut Joy.

Q: What do I need to press heat transfer vinyl onto faux leather?
A: To press heat transfer vinyl onto faux leather you’ll need a traditional heat press, Cricut EasyPress, or Cricut EasyPress Mini.

Q: How do I get the SVG template for this project?
A: Get the SVG file from my SVG Shop here. For even more holiday faux leather crafts project from my 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Event, click here.

Until next time… and happy creating!

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