A basic leather bag is the perfect accessory to take with you to school, work, or out on the town. However, if your bag is feeling a little too plain, decorations can really spruce up your look. Pick one (or a couple!) of these DIY methods to make an old leather bag feel like new again.

5

Rhinestones

  1. Bedazzle your entire bag to really make it stand out. Grab a bottle of gem glue and apply a thin layer where you’d like your gems to go.[5] Use fake rhinestones and diamonds from the craft store to cover your entire bag for a fun, feminine look.[6]
    • Let the glue dry for at least an hour before you use your bag so you don’t start losing gemstones.
    • This is a fun way to cover your bag up if you aren’t a huge fan of the color or pattern on it.
    • If you don’t want to cover your entire bag, try making a monogram with your initials instead.
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6

Fabric

  1. Give a plain bag new life by adding patterns or pictures. Find a swatch of fabric you love and cut out a design or character from it. Add a thin layer of Mod Podge to your bag, then carefully press the fabric on top. Seal the fabric with another layer of Mod Podge and let it dry before heading out the door.[7]
    • There are tons of fun, printed fabric designs that you can find at most craft stores. Look for ones with animals, angels, or plants on them to give your bag new life.
    • Mod Podge is a craft glue that you can find at most craft supply or home goods stores.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How can I embellish my leather purse?
    Joy Cho
    Joy Cho
    Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
    Joy Cho is the Founder and Creative Director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy!, founded in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California. She has authored six books and consulted for creative businesses around the world. Joy has lectured on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship at conferences and companies such as AltSummit, Pinterest, Target, and Hallmark, while her home and studio have been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino. She has also been named one of Time's 30 Most Influential People on the Internet multiple times and has the most followed account on Pinterest with more than 14 million followers.
    Joy Cho
    Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    If you want to make something that looks really custom, use pearlized beads or gems, which you can find at any craft store. Attach it with fabric glue, or sew them on if you find beads or buttons that have little holes in the bottom.
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About This Article

Joy Cho
Co-authored by:
Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
This article was co-authored by Joy Cho and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Joy Cho is the Founder and Creative Director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy!, founded in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California. She has authored six books and consulted for creative businesses around the world. Joy has lectured on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship at conferences and companies such as AltSummit, Pinterest, Target, and Hallmark, while her home and studio have been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino. She has also been named one of Time's 30 Most Influential People on the Internet multiple times and has the most followed account on Pinterest with more than 14 million followers. This article has been viewed 16,635 times.
21 votes - 74%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 16,635
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