Clean out your closet or hit up the thrift store and try one of these 25+ ways to refashion purses & bags! This list is strictly for fun makeover ideas, click over to this roundup if you’re looking for upcycled purse ideas like how to turn old jeans into a bag. Purses often take a beating but don’t throw them out just because they have a stain, hole, or wear and tear; I’ve found a fun idea for pretty much any style and crafting level so get ready to scroll!
You might also be interested in these other posts while you’re here:
- 20+ ways to refashion clothes that are too small
- Five Tips for Thrift Shopping to Upcycle & Refashion
- 10 refashioning tips for successful sewing
- 25+ diy shoe refashion tutorials
- What to do with old jeans, 40+ ideas
- 12+ ideas for how to repair upholstery
Pin this round-up of 25+ ways to refashion purses & bags with this link or collage image; please click through to the original site to pin individual images:
25+ ways to refashion purses & bags
Simple but fun, I need to try using Mod Podge Fabric and do something like this! Tutorial over at Mod Podge Rocks.
I wouldn’t have thought to spray paint a purse but Pillar Box Blue shows how with extra steps to keep it looking fresh!
Technically this is a zipper pouch but it would work easily on a purse or tote too, see how to embroider on a bag and add some fun patches here on my blog!
I wouldn’t have guessed what is stitched on this! See how to transform a straw bag into something fun & summery with a tutorial from A Beautiful Mess.
This big bow tote refashion is super fun for summer, check it out over at Flamingo Toes.
This one focuses on the strap, with a fun flower refashion from Love Maegan.
No tutorial for this one but it was a fun refashion; I just free-form stitched on a purse that had perforated leather with some of my favorite cotton petites thread! Just search perforated leather bag online to shop secondhand or keep your eyes peeled at the thrift stores.
This would be perfect for bags that got dirty on the bottom, with a simple dip dye refashion from Brit + Co.
Sara didn’t do this as a refashion but it would work as one, what a great way to cover stains! Check out how she did the photo transfer style with a tutorial at Radiant Home Studio.
Isn’t this purse begging to be touched? Take a plain clutch and cover it up with pretty little tassels, with a tutorial from Brit + Co.
Click through to see how she got such straight lines, I love the idea of subtle metallic accents on this wallet refashion from Love Maegan.
This is a really fun process that would work on a lot of bags, go see the ‘before’ of this refashioned purse at Me Sew Crazy. [2024 edit note – this website appears to be gone, leaving it up for visual inspiration]
This is such a fun idea for a formal event, check out the faux flower clutch makeover from Dans Le Lakehouse.
Love the combo of things here, with a refashioned backpack from Scratch and Stitch.
Such a neat idea, it looks like tooling, with a diy wood-burned leather purse with a tutorial from Betz White for Makezine.
How about this pretty makeover of a boring old camera bag, from Sewspire!
A fun way to add some fringe with a tutorial from HGTV Handmade.
Whimsical gem details make this clutch less fussy and more fancy, with a tutorial from I Heart Maggie.
A functional and fashionable refashion, with floral bias replacing worn out leather on a saddle bag refashion from Ruedes Renards.
This is clever thrift shopping for the perfect type of purse to refashion with neon accents, check out this tutorial from Pretty Life Girls.
(not pictured)
- I love the subtle upgrade that studs + ribbon gave to a handbag, with inspiration from The Inner Sole of Cutie Boots.
- I want to try this in leather! A woven ribbon clutch makeover from Smart N Snazzy.
- The rivets are a genius touch, with this leather flower refashion from Damask Love.
- So original and pretty, check out these painted clutches from Aunt Peaches!