handmade gifts – watercolor clutch DIY

When you can’t find it, make it. That’s got to be the credo of every creative crafty arty type out there, am I right? I should probably make that into a printable piece of art! See, there, I just did it again – turning things into art projects.

I’m always looking for ways to help Birdie make things that have real value to her and to others when she’s done. Though I made this particular clutch, this is a project that kids could take on and make their own – the messier, more scribbly, the better. Take a peek at these layered stencil paintings for more ideas! The idea began after I saw a couple of things online that I was really drawn to – but unfortunately they were both out of stock. So, one more reason to make it myself. Take a peek at this leather pouch and this painterly clutch for more inspiration.

What you’ll need:

• Natural Clutch or bag of your choosing.
• Liquid Watercolors (though I wonder what thinned acrylics would do?).
• Sharpies – both fine tip and regular.
• Ruler

What you’ll do:

• The first thing I did was play with the paints and sharpies on paper , just to get a sense of my options. Kids may want to do this too, to help them visualize what they want where.
• Then start painting! The watercolors will dry much lighter than you expect, though I did water mine down a bit. You might not need any water at all if you want a really vibrant effect.
• Let the clutch dry – I pressed mine underneath a heavy book to keep it from warping.
• Now it’s time for Sharpies. Use a light pencil to mark where you want your lines to go. Or, if it’s younger kids involved – let them scribble away, the grafitti look is super cool.
• That’s it. Kind of a silly tutorial, I think you can find your way through without my help!