How to Make a Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychain with a Cricut

November 24November 24

DIY Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychains made with a Cricut

This project is part of my 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Event where I’m sharing a new holiday faux leather Cricut craft every day for 12 days.

Want all 12 days worth of SVG templates, tutorials INSTANTLY? You can get it in the Event VIP PASS – plus bonuses like a 60+ page printable workshop, bonus holiday SVGs, and more.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIP PASS

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

This project is Day 4 of The 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Event!

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

Capture special memories when you learn how to create a personalized, pocket-sized album perfect for gifting or keeping cherished photos close at hand.

Get the SVG in my Shop

Personal or Small Commercial Use Available

SHOP THE SVG

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!

See the full step by step video tutorial

Click the image below to watch the video on my YouTube channel, or click here.

How to make a Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychain with a Cricut Step by Step

This page contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.

Materials you’ll need to make a Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychain with a Cricut

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

Faux Leather:
Any faux leather of your choice. I used:
Blue Polar Bears print, Classic Christmas Cake print, Holly & Candy Canes print
Other Supplies:
Purple Strong Grip Cricut Mat
Photo Sleeve Inserts for 2.5 x 3.5 inch photos
2mm Elastic Cord like this or this
Kam Snaps, Size 20 with Kam Snap Pliers
Large Lobster Claw Clap Keyring Hardware in Gold finish and Silver finish
10mm Jump Rings in Gold and Silver finish
6mm Jump Rings in Gold and Silver finish
Faux Suede Tassels, Gold or Silver cap
Assorted Christmas themed charms – Blue & White Winter themed charms, Pink & White Santa and holiday themed charms, Peppermint Candy charms, Gingerbread Man charms
Compatible Machines:
Cricut Maker, Cricut Maker 3, Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Joy Xtra, Cricut Joy (with Cricut Joy 12 inch cutting mat), Silhouette
The SVG templates – available in my shop here or inside the 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Event VIP Pass.

Get the SVG in my Shop

Personal or Small Commercial Use Available

SHOP THE SVG

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Starting with a blank canvas in Cricut Design Space, click on Upload, then Upload Image.

Browse to where the ALREADY UNZIPPED SVG file for this project is saved on your device.

Click on the SVG to select it and follow the prompts to upload it.

The design load on the canvas. Don’t adjust the size at all. It should be sized at exactly 8.06 inches wide x 4 inches tall.

This simple shape will cut from faux leather.

Click the MAKE IT button.

STEP 2: Click on the mat on the left hand side and toggle the Mirror toggle ON. That’s because faux leather always cuts in reverse.

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

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 a piece of faux leather slightly larger than the shape that is going to cut. Mine is 9 inches wide by 5 inches tall.

💡TIP: If desired, before you cut the faux leather shape, you can add some heat transfer vinyl to the back of the faux leather. This is an optional step that will add a pop of color and and a finished look to the inside of the photo album.

To do this, cut a piece of heat transfer vinyl just slightly smaller than the faux leather piece, place them back to back, and position the faux leather pretty side down on your heat pressing pad.

Press with the EasyPress Mini on low heat or a regular EasyPress or Heat Press set to about 265 degrees. For the EasyPress Mini, use firm pressure for 10 seconds on each area. Peel back the carrier sheet carefully.

If any of the heat transfer vinyl lifts or bubbles or wrinkles, cover the whole piece with your cover sheet and press again for 5-10 seconds.

Then let the faux leather with HTV on the back cool flat for 1-2 minutes (I place it under my heat pressing pad.

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 2mm elastic, Size 20 Kam Snaps and Kam Snap Pliers, the wallet sized photo insert, your keychain hardware, jump rings, and any optional charms or tassels.

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.

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

Use cam 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 other side, this time with cap coming up from the inside of the album cover and the the socket facing outward on the cover. This way the snap clicks into place when folded.

Press the second snap down with the pliers.

Check that your album keychain will fold and snap correctly.

Step 5: Now it’s time to add the photo sleeves. These are wallet sized photo inserts that fit 2.5 inch x 3.5 inch photos. If they have stiff plastic shapes at the front and back (for inserting in a wallet) you can trim those off with scissors if desired.

Cut a 12-inch piece of elastic and thread it through the larger holes in the album from the inside to the outside, leaving equal lengths on each side. Slide a 10mm jump ring onto the top elastic for attaching the keychain later.

Find the center page of the wallet insert and place it down on the photo album.

Fold the elastic around the center of a photo sleeve insert, then tie a simple knot. Trim any excess elastic.

To add more inserts, take another 12-inch piece of elastic, loop it around the first insert, and tie a knot at the back. You can add one or two more inserts this way, expanding to hold multiple photo sleeves.

Step 6: Now attach the keychain hardware to the jump ring you already placed on the elastic cord.

Add an optional charm with a 6mm jump ring and/or a tassel with a 10mm jump ring.

That’s it! Your Mini Photo Album Keychain is complete. Here’s another look at three different variations made with the SVG template. Which one is your favorite?

Answers to your questions about making a Faux Leather Mini Photo Album Keychain 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, the Cricut Joy Xtra, or the Cricut Joy (with the 12 inch long mat).

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.