I've made cuffs, and I usually bead them on canvas then glue that to a leather backing, sometimes with a heavy canvas or denim sandwiched in-between the two layers if it's not stiff enough. I don't think you'd want to get them TOO stiff, because it would be uncomfortable. They'd rub on your wrists whenever you move your arm. I've used milk jug plastic a lot with barrettes, in-between the beaded canvas and the leather backing. It works real good and it makes it REALLY stiff. I don't think I'd use that plastic for cuffs because of that. And I don't use cardboard for anything because if the item bends a little the cardboard will crease, and then it will be bent pretty much permanently.
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