Step 2

Once you've chosen your preferred template, click on "edit artboards" on the right side panel under "properties". This will enter artboard editing view. 

Artboards are like Illustrator's version of a canvas. Multiple artboards are like having multiple pieces of paper, which is great for duplicate designs like this one, but we won't need the extra 2 once we've chosen the template we want to use.

Step 3

The artboard outlined in blue is the selected artboard. Once selected, click backspace/delete to delete it. 

I chose the middle honeycomb template for this tutorial, so I'll be deleting the top and bottom art boards.

Step 4

You may notice that the designs from those artboards remain, despite the artboards themselves being deleted. That's okay! Just drag your cursor around the templates you won't be using (they will highlight in blue, make sure to select all of it!) and hit backspace/delete again.

Step 1

NOTE: it is important that your document is in inches units for this step! Change them in the properties section.

Step 2

The templates are designed to be size adjustable already, but if you're making it for yourself, it's best to measure your wrist and size it to that directly.

To size it, measure your wrist first, then add a half an inch to accommodate for the leather and comfort.

Once you have a measurement, click on the line tool in Illustrator.

Step 4

Before clicking anywhere else and while your line is still selected, look up at the upper right corner and select the width (W) box. Type in your measurement here (your wrist + a half an inch) and hit enter. You should see the line change its length!

Step 6

Once your line is in place, change to the Direct Selection tool.

Step 1

Take your bracelet out of the laser and clean up as needed. 

Leather burns significantly on the edges, which will leave lots of soot all over your fingers! The first step to finishing leather cut on the laser is cleaning it.

Step 2

Grab a paper towel and start rubbing the edges with it to get off all of the loose soot. I like placing the towel on the counter and "drawing" with the leather. Keep cleaning until you don't see as much dark burn coming off onto the towel.

Step 4

Now it's time for the snap! There are 4 parts to a snap. 

The cap is what goes on the outside of the bracelet, it's the pretty part! 

The socket goes on the back of the cap and holds the stud.

The stud is what snaps into the socket and will be on the opposite end of the cap and socket.

The eyelet is what holds the stud in place. 

Step 5

Place the cap into the largest crater of the anvil. It should fit snugly!

Step 6

Place your bracelet inside facing up on the cap. The cap should be on the same side as the outside of the bracelet (it's the part that will be visible).

Step 7

Place the socket on top of the cap, sandwiching the leather in between. 

Step 9

Position the setting tool in the center of your cap shaft. Hold it straight up and down, then begin to give it a few good whacks with a soft mallet. Check it periodically, but you might need to beat it more than you expect!

Step 10

You should end up with something that looks like this. The shaft of the cap has been hammered down and around the socket, holding it in place. 

Try wiggling it around with your fingers. If it seems loose, return to hammering until you feel like your cap and socket is secure.

Step 11

Now it's time to complete the other side of the snap. Turn the anvil over and place the eyelet down.

Step 12

Stick the other end of the bracelet over the shaft outside facing up, the opposite of last time. We need the eyelet to be on the inside of the bracelet, not the outside.

Step 13

Place the stud on top of the eyelet, sandwiching the leather between the two pieces once again.

Step 14

Position the same tool into the open shaft, hold straight up and down, and then begin hammering. 

Step 16

You're almost finished!

The final step is to snap and unsnap your snap repeatedly about ten times. This does two things:

First, it tests that both sides of the snap are secure. If one comes off, you'll know you didn't hammer enough! 

Second, it will break in the snap a bit. You may find it very tight on the first couple of snaps, occasionally snaps are so tight to begin with that they don't release without immense effort. Do not fret! This is normal. They will become easier to snap with use as you wear them in.