Mandala Designs 1

In order to successfully tool a Mandala, it is important to keep all impressions symmetrical and evenly spaced. See Tip Sheet - How To Set-up A Mandala Grid to help you.

ALWAYS PRACTICE your design on scrap leather before tooling it on your project leather.

A Mandala is a complex abstract design that is usually circular in form. Designing and coloring your own Mandalas can be both inspirational and therapeutic.

Coloring: For overall coloring, use a leather dye or stain. Then when dry, add a protective leather finish.

For Spot Colors: Use permanent markers and or acrylic paints applied with a fine point brush. When completely dry, apply a clear protective leather finish.

K156RD436

PS008

TIP - When tooling your design, carefully follow your grid pattern and work from the center section out.

Tools numbers and their impressions are shown next to each of the following design ideas in the order used.

Coloring was done using permanent markers and acrylics.

K156R or K156L

Shown is K156R or you can use K156L for design to go the other direction.

Start with the design above left, then add:

BW6 PJ017

K156R or K156L

Shown is K156R or you can use K156L for design to go the other direction.

Silver Creek Leather Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana, 47130 www.realeather.com

Swivel Knife Cuts

TH085

BW8

BW5

BW15

J615

Coloring:A resist of Leather Sheen was applied to select areas, then an over-all Fiebing’s stain was applied to entire leather. When dry, Leather Sheen was applied again as a protective finish.

TH085

This starts off with the same pattern as shown at left with more stamps added.

Swivel Knife Cuts

This tooling pattern uses just the heart stamp and swivel knife. Leave it alone as is or add more stamps for a more elaborate design as shown to the right.

TH085

Swivel KnifeCuts

PS008 BW6 C433

Silver Creek Leather Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana, 47130 www.realeather.com