Upcycle an Old Book into a Purse (+Instruction)

One of my readers emailed me asking for some instructions on how to turn a book into a purse. I did some research and picked some of the nicest looking DIY projects to answer the question.

I have already listed cool book purses but there are no instructions. This time I made sure each project had a detailed instruction.

Here you go: How to upcycle an old book into a cute purse:

1. How to make a purse/clutch from a Book

 

I LOVE what it looks like!

Full instruction: How to make a purse/clutch from a Book

2. Turn an Old Book into a New Purse by A Beautiful Mess 

Depending on the book color you'll need to pick a matching material. I wish it had a holder but it looks neat nonetheless! You look like smart fashionista!

Full instruction: Turn an Old Book into a New Purse

3. Homemade Book Clutch 

This one comes with a very details instruction and it looks like a real book from outside. But the inside looks very practical!

Full instruction: Homemade Book Clutch

Bonus: Book iPad cover!

This one has no instruction but what an idea! If you get excited by one of the above purses, there's nothing stopping you from implementing the same techniques to create a cool iPad cover!

(Source)

More upcycled purses for your inspiration:

• Candy Wrappers Purse
• Stylish Vinyl Records Purse
• Recycle Tetrapak into a Coin Purse 

Crafts from Trash: Scrapbooking with Found Objects by Christy Strickler

Welcome to our next edition of "Featured Readers' Crafts"

Today we are featuring a great series by Christy Strickler over at MyScrapbookEvolution.com

Christy uses all possible items she can find (including shopping bags, plastic lids, and metal pop tab lids) to add texture to your papercraft projects and create awesome-looking crafts!

Please check out Christy's series here: Scrapbooking with found objects

Here are some great scrapbooking supplies:

From Shopping Bag to Layout:

From Scraps to Woven Layers:

DIY Stencils from Lids:

Thanks for sharing these with us, Christy!

5 Winter Upcycled Hacks

Winter is a season of many things, the holidays coming in first and foremost among them for most of us, presenting us with nearly unlimited opportunities for useful and beautiful crafts and hacks for our homes, both inside and out.

Whether you're looking to create a festive atmosphere, or you simply want to get the very most out of some unused items when you've got the time to transform them during the chilliest months of year, check out these five winter upcycled hacks, for yourself and to gift:

1. Arm Warmers

5 Awesome Book Purses

Reading is a treasured pass time and one of the greatest things you can do. There is nothing quite as satisfying as sinking into a story and losing yourself to the plot, characters and excitement.

Which is something that fewer and fewer people are enjoying these days, the lack of appreciation of books depressing. Even with the creation of ereaders, which give us greater access than ever.
Why not do your part to show books some love? Check out these awesome purses that upcycle your favorites.

1. Harry Potter

While the series is now over and done with, Harry Potter will go down in history as one of the most popular fictional worlds of all time. Order of the Phoenix is a favorite of many, and this Etsy seller is offering purse with custom fittings, buckles, straps and decorations using the cover. I have seen many other Harry Potter books used, with every title available.

Film Negatives Handbags

We've seen plenty of DIY handbags already and these are a valuable addition to our collection.

Film negative handbags come in various forms, styles and sizes - just whichever you want!

Life Vests into Cool Bags

It is hard to imagine the situation that one has a couple of extra life vests but in case one does, here's a cool idea on how to recycle them: create a cool recycled DIY messenger bag.

Surely it does look nice and it actually took me a few minutes to understand what it is actually made of:

Candy Wrappers Purse

We have already seen a bag made of recycled candy wrappers. Here's another one: it seems a bit easier to create.

I really like the way ti looks like:

Pop Tabs Wristlet Bag

I've long under impression that pop tabs are the most useless things under the sun.

Well, I was wrong. We've seen a couple of cool ideas on how to recycle them (like pop tabs belt and pop tabs lamp) and here's one more: a cool pop tabs wrist bag.

Look like some hard work - but it's well worth it!

Cool Newspaper Handbags

Like these candy wrappers bags and this magazine bowl we've seen earlier, these handbags must take plenty of time but they have quite a few benefits:

1. They won't cost you a penny;
2. If you create one, you will be proud of yourself;
3. This one should be fun to create (especially with kids).
   

Recycle Candy Wrappers into a Chick Bag

Even the picky fashionistas should appreciate this: the bag made of candy wrappers look colorful, bright and actually cool.

I don't think it will be solid enough to sustain the active usage (you won't be able to stuff it with all sorts of useless things you may like having in your handbag) but it will make you the center of any party!