Faux Leather Tutorial

Making faux leather is easier than you think.  I know, I say that about a lot of my tutorials.  Have I been wrong? LOL  Let's get started!

Supplies

• Matte Multi Medium
• Paint Brush
• Card Stock
• Tissue Paper
• Ink (I used Distress Inks in the following colors: Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Aged Mahogany
• Ink Blending Tool (s) & Pad (s)

 

Step 1

The first thing I did was distress my paper by using my fingers to break down the paper fibers so that the paper was more flexible.  I didn't really do this for the creases because the tissue paper takes care of that.

Beginning with your lightest color, start pulling the ink onto your paper with your blending tool.  Remember that you want an uneven finish.  Old, worn leather doesn't have an even color, neither should your card stock.

*Tip - Don't get stuck in the thought that your leather must be brown.  Get creative and go with any color your heart desires.  I used to have a pink leather mini skirt.  LOL Those were the days.

 

Step 2

Once you have your card stock inked to your heart's content, take a piece of tissue paper that is half-again as big as your card stock, and crumple it up really good.  I balled mine up into my hand.  Now gently pull it open, but don't open it to the point where all of your wrinkles and creases are gone.

Step 3

Using your paint brush, begin spreading your matte Multi Medium onto your card stock until you've covered it.

**Tip:  If you are using Distress Ink, it will begin to react to the moisture from the Multi Medium.  If you look close at my photo you can see where this is beginning to happen.  Now, you may decide you want this to happen in which case it gives you another opportunity to blend and move the color around.  If you don't want this to happen then you need to use as few brush strokes as possible to get your piece covered.  I started out using more MM on my brush so that my brush wasn't initially in contact with the paper.  You can eliminate this from happening by using inks that don't react to water.

Step 4

Take your tissue paper and begin laying it onto your paper.  This is where you control how wrinkled and creased your leather looks.  You can just lay it on top all at once and lightly press it down in place, as I have above), or you can start in one section and using your fingers you can pull open your tissue paper so that it isn't so wrinkled and push it down onto your page. (Refer to my page layout example at the top)  You can go another step further and move the tissue paper around on the page.  Just remember that your tissue paper is soaking up moisture and could rip or tear.

If you have any tissue paper hanging over the edge just leave it there for the time being.  You'll need to dry your project at this point by using a heat gun or hair dryer.  Once the paper has dried, use a craft knife or scissors and trim off the excess tissue paper.

Step 5

Take your mid-tone ink (Vintage Photo in my case) and run your blending tool just across the tops of the creases so that they grab the color.  You may want to smoosh your tool down in a few places to add a richer tone to your leather.  

Your Done!!!!  As you can see from the two examples I provided at the beginning of this tutorial, the applications are only limited by your mind.  You could make an entire background out of this, a card or just sections for a page.  You could make inches, twinchies, thrinchies, tags and ATCs.  You can stamp on it (as I did above).  I used colored pencils on the example as well.  Open your mind and get creative.  I can't wait to hear how this works for you and I would love to see what you do with it!

Have a blast and thanks so very much for stopping by!!