20 beginner leatherette projects (with thickness and design notes)
Updated Jun 2026TL;DR: Twenty projects you can cut today with PU leatherette and a beginner laser setup. Sorted by difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced), each with the right thickness, design notes, and links to the deeper tutorials where applicable. Save this page and come back to it the next time you need a project idea.
Beginner (under 1 hour, simple shapes)
1. Bookmark. The first leatherette project for most people. Cut a 4 by 15 cm strip in 0.6 to 0.8 mm leatherette, round the corners, engrave a name or quote. Done. Thickness: 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Time: 15 minutes. See: No-stitch foldable bookmarks tutorial.
2. Luggage tag. A rectangle with a slot for a strap and an engraved address area. Useful and giftable. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 20 minutes per tag.
3. Gift tag. Smaller than a luggage tag, a hole at one end for a ribbon. Engrave the recipient's name. Pair with wrapping for a finished gift. Thickness: 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Time: 10 minutes per tag.
4. Keychain blank. A simple shape (rectangle, oval, custom outline) with a keyring hole. Engrave a name, a logo, or a date. The classic Etsy first product. Thickness: 0.8 to 1.0 mm. Time: 15 minutes per blank.
5. Coaster. Round or square, 9 to 10 cm across, engraved design or pattern. Sell as singles or as a four-pack. Thickness: 1.0 to 1.2 mm. Time: 20 minutes per coaster.
6. Hat patch. A small shape with a flat back for adhesion. Logos, designs, monograms. High-margin Etsy product. Thickness: 0.8 mm. Time: 20 minutes per patch. See: Hat patches that actually adhere for the bonding details.
7. Earrings. Simple flat shapes (geometric, leafy, statement) with a hole for an earring hook. Lightweight, customisable. Thickness: 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Time: 20 minutes per pair.
8. Phone strap. A long thin strip with a loop for a phone case attachment. Engrave a name or design. Popular as travel and concert merch. Thickness: 0.8 to 1.0 mm. Time: 25 minutes per strap.
Intermediate (a few hours, basic assembly)
9. Bag base for crochet or knit project bag. A pre-cut oval or rectangle with a row of holes around the perimeter. The foundation of a hand-made bag. Thickness: 1.0 to 1.4 mm depending on bag size. Time: 30 to 60 minutes per base. See: Bag bases guide.
10. Hair scrunchie tab. A small decorative tab with a loop, sewn into a fabric scrunchie. Engraves with names, dates, or icons. Thickness: 0.8 mm. Time: 15 minutes plus sewing time.
11. Backpack tag. A larger luggage tag with strap and contact slot, designed for backpacks and school bags. Custom names for kids' bags. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 30 minutes per tag. See: No-stitch personalized backpack tag.
12. Bookmark with tassel. A bookmark with an extra slot at the top for a yarn or leather tassel. Adds movement and craft-show appeal. Thickness: 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Time: 20 minutes.
13. Wallet card holder (no-stitch). A folded leatherette pouch that holds 1 to 3 cards. Cut, score, fold, snap or rivet to close. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 1 hour. See: No-stitch leatherette wallet step-by-step.
14. Drink coaster set with stand. Four coasters plus a stiff vertical stand that holds them. The stand showcases the design. Thickness: 1.2 mm for stand, 1.0 mm for coasters. Time: 1 hour.
15. Pet collar charm. A pet-shaped tag with an engraved name and phone number. Hangs from a collar D-ring. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 20 minutes per charm.
Advanced (longer, more steps)
16. Crochet basket with leatherette base and rim. A full crochet basket with a leatherette base AND a leatherette rim band for finished structure. Thickness: 1.2 mm. Time: 2 to 4 hours total including crochet. See: Crochet basket and bag base tutorial.
17. No-stitch tote bag. A full-size tote made from a single piece of leatherette with cut-out handles. Folded, snap-closed, no sewing. Thickness: 1.2 to 1.4 mm. Time: 2 hours.
18. Layered art portrait. A multi-layer leatherette art piece. Three to five layers of contrasting colours stacked to create depth. Thickness: 0.6 mm for top layers, 1.0 mm for base. Time: 3 to 4 hours.
19. Custom pet portrait. A pet's outline or silhouette in leatherette, engraved with name and date. Premium gift product. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 1 to 2 hours per portrait.
20. Modular leatherette kit (geometric assembly). A kit of cut leatherette shapes that customers assemble themselves into a 3D form (cube, pyramid, animal). Snap or rivet assembly, no glue. Thickness: 1.0 mm. Time: 4 to 6 hours design and prototyping; production is 30 minutes per kit.
How to pick your next project
A few rules of thumb when you are scrolling the list:
Start with what your laser can handle. A 5 W diode does the beginner projects 1 to 8 cleanly but struggles with thicker pieces (16, 17, 20). A 40 W CO2 does everything on the list.
Match the project to your customer. Pet owners want collar charms and portraits. Travellers want luggage tags and phone straps. Crafters want bag bases and project bag accessories. Make for the customer you actually have.
Build product lines, not one-offs. A single keychain design is a project. Twenty designs in matching colours is a product line. Spend more time on the line.
Photograph as you go. The biggest blocker for new Etsy sellers is product photography. Build a small lifestyle photo set as you make each new project so the listing is ready when the product is.
Free designs and downloads
We publish free SVG designs and project files alongside several of these projects. See the specific tutorials linked above for downloads, or browse the Beginner Leatherette Projects blog for the full list.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the single best first project for someone who just got a laser? A: A bookmark. Fastest, cheapest, lowest risk, and produces a giftable finished piece in 15 minutes.
Q: What project sells best on Etsy? A: Hat patches, keychain blanks, and personalised gift tags lead by volume. Bag bases and project kits sell at higher price points but lower volume.
Q: Can I make any of these without a sewing machine? A: Yes, most. Snap-and-rivet hardware lets you make wallets, bag bases, and bag closures without stitching. See our hardware for leatherette guide.
Q: How long does it take to develop a leatherette product line from scratch? A: Two to four weeks for the first product. Once you know your laser and your supplier, a new product comes together in a few days.
Q: What should I price these at? A: Material cost is usually 10 to 25 percent of retail. Hat patches retail at $8 to $15, keychains at $10 to $20, bag bases at $15 to $35, tote bags at $40 to $80. Adjust to your market.