How to Make a Cute Leather Flower for Your DIY Sandals

Tools and materials:

• 2 pieces of patterned leather
• Scissors
• Contact adhesive
• Hot glue gun
• Leather sandal straps

1. Cut the fringe

You will need two pieces of patterned leather, 7.2 inches (18 cm) long and 1.2 inches (3 cm) wide.

Fold one strip in half lengthways with the pattern on the outside.

Hold the strip with the folded edge towards you.

Make cuts into the folded edge of the strip without cutting all the way through it. 

Leave about 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) uncut at the open edge and make your cuts about one sixteenth of an inch (1 mm) apart.

Continue cutting the full length of each strip.

2. Roll the flower

Keeping the strip folded, roll it up as tightly as you can from one end.

Keep the open edge even and held tightly together, so that the fringed section flares out in a flower shape.

Try to avoid using glue to hold the roll together, so that you can manipulate the flower in the next step.

3. Arrange the petals

Keeping the base tightly rolled, press on the center of the flower to encourage the cut section to open out.

Apply a little glue to the end of the roll so it doesn’t undo and to close the two sides of the strip together.

While the glue dries, continue to manipulate the outside edge of the roll and press it outwards into a flower shape.

Make a second flower to match the first.

4. Create the base

Cut a circle of colored leather to fit across the base of the flower.

Glue the circle to the bottom of the flower, to hold the sides of the roll together.

You can have the patterned or plain side of the base outwards. I prefer to use the plain side to attach the flower to the shoe.

You can get a stronger bond on that side because the leather isn’t as smooth.

5. Attach the flower to the shoe

I like to use a hot glue gun for this step.

Cover the base of the flower with glue.

Press it firmly onto the leather strap of the sandal or flip flop.

DIY leather flower

If you enjoy making DIY sandals, it’s very useful to know how to make this leather flower trim.

You can make it in various sizes and colors to give your shoes a unique touch. Just remember to take your time with the cutting because the more cuts you make, the more attractive the finished flower will look.

If you have any questions at all about this tutorial or making shoes in general, please drop me a comment below and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Next, check out this Bedazzled Shoes DIY Tutorial: How to Add Pearls to a Block Heel.