DIY Floral Denim Crossbody Purse

I'm going to let you in on a little bit about how I work... what makes me tick. I'm out shopping and I spy the cutest floral crossbody bag. It's just 10 bucks but then I see one without the floral pattern for only 5 bucks. So of course I go cheapo and get the $5 bag and DIY it to my liking! So basically I'm cheap and crafty. That's me in a nutshell, really!

DIY Leopard Painted Bag

I love the idea of painting a pattern or design over a bag, it’s a great way to personalize something that really is very personal. We carry our bags with us everyday and most of the time our bags have someone else’s initials or design all over them. While this project is definitely inspired by existing bags, it’s also a fun and simple way to personalize and make your bag your own. The soft fabric paints by Tulip are perfect for creating your own designs. So get your bag and let’s start painting!

Aztec-inspired Derin Bag

You are totally going to think I'm cray-cray bananas, drizzled with loca sauce when I tell you about this bag. The awesome folks at Onna Ehrlich wrote to me to see if I would feature their beautiful Derin bag ($650.00). They were kind and generous enough to send me one to have and keep!

Deep breath.

So I received the bag and loved it! But I thought I'd give it a little DIY love, maybe just a few light barely-there stenciled Aztec designs. Next thing I knew, I went to town on the entire bag! I painted a $650 designer bag!

But you know what? I LOVE IT EVEN MORE!!!! Here is how it all went down, read on...

Make a Louis Vuitton Inspired Decoupage Purse

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod World Louis Vuitton Inspired Decoupage Purse
Margot Potter for iLovetoCreate

What's a fashionista with a thrift shop budget to do when the purse she covets is entirely out of her reach?  Whip up her own version, that's what!  I have always loved the fashion of the early 1960s.  Louis Vuitton has dished up some absolutely fabulous black and white mod inspired fashion this season and I've had my eye on this fabby little bag in yellow.  A little wooden box purse for $7.99, some yellow paint, patterned scrapbook paper, decoupage medium and two coats of Aleene's spray sealer and for well under $15.00, I feel like a million bucks!  And you can too!  Here's how I made my Louis Vuitton Inspired It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod World Decoupage Purse.

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2013

You'll need to pick up a wooden purse and the following ingredients:

Black and white patterned scrapbook paper
Crafty Chica Little Paints in Yellow
Aleene's Collage Pauge Glossy
Aleene's Spray Acrylic Sealer


You'll need to gather up these tools:
Fine grit sand paper
Small screw driver
Tulip Foam brushes

 

Remove the hardware, sand purse with a fine grit sandpaper.

 Paint the purse, at least three if not four coats, you want a nice even coverage.

You can use a real flower silhouette, or draw your own.  I drew mine, cut it out and traced it on the back

 of my patterned paper.  This leaves me with a template I can use again!  

Use your foam brush to add decoupage medium to back of flower and purse, decoupage.  Allow to dry, add a second layer.  DO NOT WORRY ABOUT BUBBLES.  Smooth any bubbles with a wet finger and then walk away.  Trust me.  Add two layers of spray sealer  for a glossy finish allowing them to dry in between coats.  Put purse back together and go be fabulous!

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Embellished Straw Tote

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Embellished Straw Tote
Margot Potter
'These ARE your grandmother's crafts...ya gotta problem with that? 
I didn't think so."

I'm afraid I have always had a serious soft spot for retro beachy looks.  Straw hats, straw totes, sundresses and seersucker rompers all make my little heart go pitter pat.  When I saw this plain straw tote in the dollar section at Target, I could not resist.  I knew immediately how I would DIY it into a retrofabulous summer bag!  Some felt, rick rack trim, pom-pom fringe and a judicious smattering of sparkly crystal accents take a plain bag from drab to fab and with the help of Aleene's Tacky Glues literally in seconds flat!  Now THAT's retrofabulous!

Materials
Plain straw tote
Craft felt in four colors
Coordinating pom pom fringe
Coordinating rick rack trim
Tulip Glam-it-up Crystals in Metallics
Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Aleene's Tacky Glue Dots Singles 3/16"

Tools
Scissors
Ruler
Marker

Hand draw a simple 4"lx1.5"w fish shape, cut out to use as a template.

Place template on felt, trace and cut out four fish.

Cut rick rack and adhere to fish.

Glue fish and pom pom trim to tote with Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue.  Finish one fish with metallic crystal accents using Aleene's Tacky Glue Dots.  Allow it all to dry, toss on your favorite vintage or vintage inspired sundress and sunglasses and ta da...go get 'em, you retrofabulous creature, you!