Revamped Purse

Front after

Front before

Back before

Back after

I found the purse on sale at a thrift store for $1 and almost didn't purchase it because of the scrape on the back and the color combination looking a little early 90's Etienne Aigner, but decided I would try revamping it.   I am happy with the way that it turned out as the black really makes the hardware pop and it almost looks like a girly gothic doctor's bag.

Items used:

• Black shoe polish
• Black acrylic paint
• Sponge paintbrush
• Masking tape
• Clear gloss spray paint 

I first used shoe polish to buff out the scuffs on the back and elsewhere. 

I taped off the hardware with masking tape to avoid getting paint on it.

In painting the purse, I painted all areas that were a brownish maroon with black acrylic paint.  As part of the area was textured, I mostly dabbed the sponge over the area until it was completely covered.

Once all parts were painted, I painted the entire purse with a clear gloss spray paint to seal in the acrylic paint and to made the purse shiny.

Black Flower Tote Bag

This tote bag is an existing bag decorated with black flowers made out of scraps and black glitter fabric paint for accents.

•  Tote bag
• Scissors
• Paper and Sharpie Pen
• Scraps of fabric for flowers
• Scraps of sturdier fabric for base
• Glue gun and hot glue
• Needle and thread (optional)
• Glittery Fabric Paint
• Acrylic Paint to match bag  
• Sponge paintbrush

I used all black scraps from t-shirts and other sewing projects (I used black, but any colors could be used) for the flowers and felt, denim and other sturdy fabrics for the base.

The flowers are the same concept as Twisted and Stoned Flowers except instead of stone in the center, you tie a few knots in the end of the fabric.

For the base, use a soda can or other circular object (I used a soda can and a lid of of a milk jug) to draw a circle on a piece or paper.  Cut out and use a template. Place circle on felt, denim or other sturdy fabric draw around it with a pen or Sharpie then cut out.














Cut fabric for flowers into strips that are approximately 1 inch wide.  Instead of using a stone for the center,  tie a few knots in the end of fabric for the center and the glue down

Use glue gun to glue down fabric and start twisting.  Dab a bit of glue on top of the fabric and glue down the stone.  Twists fabric, dab glue, push down and repeat all the was around the flower, twisting as you go until you reach the out edge.  Repeat until you have enough to cover the bag (I used around 50).

If you start with a plain bag, you can skip this step.

As there was writing on the bag, I used black acrylic paint and sponge paintbrush to cover the writing.  It took about 3 coats. 

Arrange the flowers on the bag, then glue down with the hot glue gun.  I also hand stitched around them to secure them to the bag, but that might not be necessary.

To accentuate the flowers (and cover up any hot glue splotches) with glitter fabric paint if desired.









Happy crafting!