Crafty by Nature

Resparkle an Old Handbag with Spring Flowers!

Susan Beal, contributor

4 users recommend

This newly resparkled handbag is an instant favorite!

Susan Beal

All you need for an instant update is a plain purse, rhinestones in a few different sizes and shapes, and glue!

Susan Beal

Add the rhinestones in patterns to form each flower from the center out.

Susan Beal

This newly resparkled handbag is an instant favorite!

Photo: Susan Beal

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If you have a plain patent-leather handbag lying around that could use a little pick-me-up, how about embellishing it with a fun, sparkly design? I used a handful of colored rhinestones to create a flower pattern on the front of my purse in the style of Enid Collins, one of my favorite vintage designers. Follow these directions to make a floral design, or create your own with other shapes, sizes, and colors. I found my rhinestones at Berger Beads in Los Angeles, but you can also find similar pieces at large craft stores like Michaels.

What you'll need:

• Plain vintage or new patent-leather or hard-sided handbag
• Craft glue of your choice (I recommend Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue or Jewel & Glitter Glue)
• Toothpicks for spreading glue (optional)
• Round rhinestones for flower centers (I used three: small, medium, and large)
• Oval or marquise rhinestones in the same color for the border (I used 15)
• Oval or marquise rhinestones in a contrast color for petals (I used 25)

Here's everything you'll need for this project.

1. Place your flower centers on the bag in your desired spots. I arranged mine so that the small and medium-sized ones were on the left half, in a loose diagonal, and the large one was centered on the right half.

First, you’ll place the flower centers on your bag.

2. Glue the flower centers down securely with your craft glue. (I used Jewel & Glitter Glue for these larger rounds, and Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue for the smaller oval accents.) If any glue peeks out around the edges, you can wait for it to partially set and then use a toothpick or tweezers to pull it away.

3. Now you’ll begin to add contrast-color rhinestone oval “petals” to the centers. I started with my largest one on the right side, adding ovals symmetrically around it. First, I added one to the top and one to the bottom, as shown, using a toothpick to dab glue onto the backs of the rhinestones and then pressing them down onto the purse.

Add the first set of two and then the next set of two petals symmetrically across from each other.

Bead Simple - Signed Edition
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Comments (7)

Stile writes: fun idea, giving me thoughts for how to embellish those nifty, not yet used or gently used handbags I find at thrift store.
Posted: 12:36 pm on January 17th

WholesaleHandbags writes: My niece has gifted me a purse in that she has made pattern of flower like this. I think she got idea form your post only.
Posted: 12:07 am on December 25th

byabpryor writes: Very clever! I might try this with my own pattern... Thanks!
Posted: 8:30 pm on December 5th

niranjana writes: very sweet and cute idea
Posted: 6:13 am on September 6th

milicia writes: Very good idea! bravo!
Posted: 10:36 am on August 16th

quiltingGG writes: I love purses and this one is a winner.....
Posted: 8:23 am on August 16th

Paws2 writes: How adorable!!! I have a black patent leather purse that is crying for something pretty and eye catching! Great idea! Thanks
Posted: 7:33 am on May 3rd

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