DIY: Reworking a Vintage Bag, 2 Liebster Noms & Get to Know Me Tag!

These past few days have been insanely busy!  I've been finishing up this DIY, and I found out today that I was nominated for 2 Liebster Awards from Laura @ Great Little Day & from Brooke @ What2Wear.  I really admire both of these amazing women & consider their blogs great reads.  The rules of the Liebster Award will only allow me to accept & pass forward if I have less than 200 followers, and last night as I slept, I broke through 200!!!  So, I can't pass this award along, but I have to thank them for thinking of me!!!  I was also surprised to find out that I was tagged in a Get to Know Me post by Jan M @ Jan M Loves.  I've answered her questions below the DIY project, so if you want to read them, scroll down after the DIY!


Now, for the DIY- Don't go screaming purse abuse just yet!  I know that many of you are wondering what would possess me to paint over a Louis Vuitton bag.  Can you believe that I purchased this bag for the purpose of painting it?  Really, I did.  I decided a long time ago that I wanted a custom painted LV bag, but I obviously wasn't going to buy a brand new bag and destroy it, so I purchased a used LV bag off ebay for a low price.  The condition wasn't the best, but if you are going to do a DIY, it doesn't have to be.  The purse sat at my working desk for nearly 2 years, and I guarantee my friends probably wondered why I just had a random bag on my art desk.  Anyways, I think this is a fun DIY way to rework a vintage bag that needs an uplift- it's a way to make something uniquely yours.  Of course, as you guys well know at this point, Hello Kitty has my heart, so I customized mine in HK style.  


What you need for this DIY: Vintage purse (LV bags are great because you are painting on a canvas- contrary to what many believe, LV bags are not made of leather, but are made of coated canvas, so as an artist, they make a great base!)  However, any vintage bag that needs to be reworked will do.  You will also need a variety of paintbrushes.  I know for previous DIYs, I told you to buy cheap sets of brushes (around $3-4/set of 5 brushes at places like Michaels), and you can still do that if you aren't planning to get too detailed in your work, but if you are, you may want to invest in some better brushes (around $8-10 for nicer brushes).  You will also need paint, and I would not recommend using craft paint for this project, but would use acrylics instead.  Also, it's important to buy Opaque Acrylic colors, so the color isn't translucent when you paint it.  Colors are around $7-10 each, but you can always find sales at places like Aaron's Brothers & Michaels.


So, let's begin!


P.S. If you're already not into this DIY, did you see my Painted Clutch DIY?  It's a much simpler DIY and is perfect for summer!

Make sure you use acrylic paint for this DIY, and not craft paint.  It will be easier to paint, and the results will last longer.

 Make sure the paints are Opaque and not Translucent, or else you will be painting multiple coats!

Get a variety of brushes.

The first layer is on!  What could I be painting?

Does the red bow give it away?

I've added details in yellow & black.

And now for the final touch!  A blue outline for Hello Kitty!

What do you guys think of the finished DIY?


And now, here are my answers from the Get to Know Me post by Jan M @ Jan M Loves!


Jan chose to ask me the following questions:
Where would you like to be right at this moment?
What are your top 3 dream jobs?
What will you do if you won the lottery jackpot?
Shoes or bags?
What is the best advice you have about relationships?
Where do you shop the most?
Is there a thing you'd like to change about yourself?
What's your favorite nail polish?
What was your worst impulsive buying moment?
What beauty products do you use everyday?

Continue reading to find my answers to Jan M's questions!

Where would you like to be right at this moment?
Somewhere tropical, in a bikini, margarita in hand.
What are your top 3 dream jobs?
1) Professor of Modern Art; 2) Director of large art museum (such as LACMA); 3) Editor of Vogue
What will you do if you won the lottery jackpot?
It depends on how much it is.  I think I would donate a majority of it to organizations that I'm really supportive of and I would probably travel, a lot.
Shoes or bags?
Ughhh this is really tough for me!!  If it comes down to it...bags...I think.
What is the best advice you have about relationships?
Stay true to who you are in the relationship, and always value what your partner brings into the relationship.
Where do you shop the most?
H&M

Is there a thing you'd like to change about yourself?

Nope.  I think you eventually outgrow that stage.

What's your favorite nail polish?

I don't have a favorite brand really, because I honestly rarely wear it, but right now I love anything mint colored.

What was your worst impulsive buying moment?

I don't know that I've had any.  I really think things through before I buy them.

What beauty products do you use everyday?

I just this lotion called Purpose on my face everyday.  It's like $8 at Target and it's the only one that doesn't irritate my very sensitive skin.  I also have to use mascara, and I have been using Lorac Visual Effects for a few years now, and don't plan on switching.