Faux Leather Fall Motel Style Keychains
This project is part of my Faux Falloween Crafting Event where I’m sharing a new Fall or Halloween Cricut craft every day for 10 days.
Learn how to make Faux Leather Fall Motel Keychains with a Cricut
In this project we’ll be making these vintage style motel keychains for fall using faux leather, heat transfer vinyl, and a Cricut.
These keychains are easy to make, and you can customize them with different colors and designs. In the video, I’ll show you how to create your own design or text using the iconic motel keychain shape and outline as a base.
Ready to get started? 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 Faux Leather Fall Motel Style Keychains with a Cricut Step by Step
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Materials you’ll need to make Faux Leather Fall Motel Keychains with a Cricut
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Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Start with a nice and smooth faux leather for your keychains.
Step 2: Unzip the download folder. Then open a blank canvas in Cricut Design Space and upload the SVG files for this project by clicking on the Upload button on the left hand size and choosing the unzipped SVG file.
This will bring all three motel keychain designs onto your canvas in Cricut Design Space.
Step 3: Choose the keychain design you want to make and hide or delete the other ones. Click the MAKE IT button.
When the mat previews load, toggle the MIRROR button on for both because faux leather and heat transfer vinyl cut in reverse. Then drag your shapes away from the side and top edges of the mat a little. Click Continue.
Step 4: Choose the Faux Leather (Paper Thin) setting with “more” pressure for the faux leather mat. Then choose the appropriate material setting for the vinyl mat recommended by your vinyl’s manufacturer.
Step 5: Now cut the faux leather mat. Place your faux leather pretty side down on the purple strong grip mat and press it down firmly. Secure the edges with blue painter’s tape to prevent any movement during the cut.
Load the mat into the machine and press the Cut button to begin the cut.
Step 6: When the cut is finished, check with a sharp weeding tool to see if the cut went all the way through before you unload the mat. If the shape isn’t cut out completely, press the Cut button again to rerun the cut.
When the cut is complete, remove the faux leather shapes from the mat and trim away any fuzzy edges. Remember to poke out the keychain holes at the top.
Set aside and return to Design Space to cut the heat transfer vinyl mats.
Remove the cut vinyl layers from the mat and weed away the excess.
Step 7: Next press the heat transfer vinyl onto the faux leather. Press the outside outline layer first and then the inside design layer.
Place the front faux leather keychain shape on a heat pressing pad. Then place the first vinyl layer shown in the Layering Guide on top. Cover with a Teflon cover sheet, butcher paper, or parchment paper.
Use your EasyPress Mini set on low (or a regular EasyPress at around 265°F) to press the vinyl to the faux leather. Once pressed, remove the carrier sheet and set the sleeve aside to cool.
Then press the inside design layer, being careful to center it on the keychain blank both vertically and horizontally.
After the second layer is pressed, place the warm faux leather shape under your heat pressing pad for a minute or two so it cools flat.
Step 8: Once your faux leather shapes have cooled, it’s time to glue the front and back together. Apply glue to the back of one piece, getting close to the edges without going over. This ensures a tight seal when the two pieces are pressed together. If any glue seeps out, simply wipe it away with a damp paper towel or your finger.
Place the front piece on top of the back and press them together. To ensure a seamless edge, place the assembled keychain under a heavy book for about an hour while it dries.
Step 9: After the glue has dried, it’s time to add the keyring. Attach a split ring key ring using jewelry making pliers and a 10mm jump ring.
Now you have a retro style Fall themed motel keychain for your keys or backpack!
Answers to your questions about making Faux Leather Fall Motel Style Keychains 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: The SVG template for this project is part of my Faux Falloween Crafting Event. Learn more and get all of the SVG files and tutorials for the event projects here.
If you loved this project, you’ll love these projects too:
Easy Faux Leather Pumpkin Pie Earrings with a Cricut
Will you make this project?
I would love to see what you have created! Please join my free faux leather crafting making Facebook group and share your creations with me and all of my crafting friends!
Until next time… and happy creating!
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These were so much fun to make and your tutorials are always so easy to follow!
I can’t wait to make these
Love that these are so light weight and you can make them out for the seasons or holidays
Amy, thank you for these terrific keychains. Your instructions are always so clear and concise that it makes creating these crafts a pleasure. Thank you!
Can’t wait to make these!
Very Nice
What a cute idea!!! Thank you for sharing
Really cute keychains.
These are super fun and cute! Thank you Amy!
I call my Granddaughter Boo lol I think she would like that one.
These are so adorable.
Can’t wait to make some of these!
Amy, these are so cute. I love motel keychains.
The options are Endless as to what Text to put on these! I will have a New Key Chain for Every Season and many Holidays!
I really love these designs. Thank you Amy for taking time out to share these designs with us, you are a true inspiration. I look forward to more of these content. Because of you I love making faux leather crafts.
love what you teach with faux leather, it’s great.
Thanks
These are soooo cute. I can’t wait to make them!
These are very cute. I like that you lists the supplies with links and show step by step instructions.
The cowboy ghost is so darn cute! With all of the cute keychains you design, I will soon need a keychain holder to hold them all.
I love your motel key rings and these are just adorable
Love the retro!
Thanks for putting on this event! I look forward to seeing what you’re going to create each day.
This tutorial is easy to follow and Everything I needed was in one place like a supply list etc. Love the Fall Halloween theme and your SVG’s are so nice
Great idea. Scraps would work well for this.
I love the motel keychains! I can’t wait to make them!
Your YouTube video is so detailed and this tutorial is the same. So glad I found you and now follow you on all social media outlets!
These are just too cute can’t wait to make some of them, thank you
Cute! Can’t wait to make some!
I love this project so much. such a easy great idea for key chains
I love these motel keychains. I just got interested in faux leather thanks to Amy and she makes everything look so easy and fun.
Love the options you always give us. These are adorable keychains. They have become very popular lately.
Very cute idea. I remember those keyrings.
I love the ghost one so much!
I love these!
Thanks for another great tutorial!
Love the shape of the keyring. It’s can be used for different ideas and seasons.
Looking forward to make these, thanks Amy 🙂
Thank you for another amazing project! These are absolutely adorable!
I love the keychains, they are super cute!! I cannot wait to make them <3
Everything you design is so cute
These are so cute and would make great gifts.
Love these falloween versions of motel keychains!
These keychains are always so fun!
I have loved everyday so far and can’t wait to see what’s to come.
Thank you for another great project!
These motel keychains are so cute. Love the color of all the faux leather used for this project.
These are so cool! I want to try and make some of them.
What a cute idea. Love how easy they are to make.
I really love these faux motel keys. So many great ideas, come to mind. Now just to get busy making not just watching.
these are awesome
I love your Falloween keychains! Waiting on supplies to make some. Hey Boo is next. lol
Love how you create new ideas that one can use left overs from other projects.
Your instructions are always so clear and easy to follow. I can’t wait to make one!