Photo: TooToo.com (available for purchase)
6. Purses and bags
You can make a wide variety of purses and bags out of old jeans, depending on your sewing abilities and spare time.
Use these instructions from Craftbits.com to make a simple “bootie bag” purse: Cut off the pant legs, and turn the denim inside out. You can either sew the bottom together or use a hot glue gun to fasten the pieces together – if you’re not savvy with a needle and thread or you want an easy project to work on with your kids. Then you’ll use the pant’s seams to make handles, which you can also either sew or glue to attach to the bag.
AllFreeCrafts.com offers another no-sew denim upcycling project that creates the perfect purse for a young girl. Simply cut out the back pocket from a pair of jeans, and use a hot glue gun to attach a string of beads to serve as the handle. Embellish the pocket purse with leftovers from other craft projects like lace, ribbon and fabric flowers.
Or, if you’re ready to take on a more complex sewing project, follow Recycle-crafts.com’s guide to making a chic evening bag or Threadbanger’s tutorial on creating a one-of-a-kind purse with braided denim handles.
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