How to Make Your Old Accessories Look Brand New
Accessories, such as purses, glasses, belts, scarves, jewelry, etc., make up a significant chunk of our closets and combinations that help personalize our outfits. We never stop using them. However, there are times when we become bored with our old accessories. But before you get rid of them or purchase new ones, think twice. It’s possible to make your old items look brand new with a few easy hacks.
5-Minute Crafts rounded up some tricks to customize and freshen up your old accessories with a few little tweaks.
1. Turn your scarf into a bag.
What you’ll need: a scarf
How to do it:
1. Fold your scarf in half and convert it into a square shape.
2. Tie a knot on each of the opposite corners.
3. Take one of the untied corners and knot it under the existing knots. Do the same with the other corner.
4. You can adjust the handle’s length by untying the first knots. You will create your handbag after bringing the 2 ends together.
2. Convert your purse into a shoulder bag.
What you’ll need: your favorite purse with a flap and a long chain strap
How to do it:
1. Open up the front flap, then hold and pull up the chain strap.
2. Twist it in such a way to create a cross.
3. Taking the top part of the cross, loop it around either side of the flap.
4. Close the flap and check if it closes easily. When you look at its back, you’ll have a double chain.
3. Personalize your hoops with strings.
What you’ll need: hoop earrings, embroidery thread, scissors, and a tube of craft glue
How to do it:
1. If you have a large hoop, use 40 inches (101 centimeters) of embroidery thread. You’ll need less for smaller hoops. Before everything else, start gluing the end of the hoop.
2. Pick your favorite 2 colors of strands and stick them onto the glued part, parallel to the hoop.
3. Pick the color you want to start with, then begin wrapping the other color around the hoop.
4. Keep going until you can’t see the hoop or the other strand.
5. When you reach the end of the hoop, glue that part and wrap the thread directly over the glue. You can wipe the excess glue away. If you don’t need to use more thread, trim it and glue the remaining thread over the ends. Repeat it for the other earring.
4. Spray paint your old rain boots.
What you’ll need: spray paint with primer, a plastic drop cloth, and rain boots
How to do it:
1. Cover the area with a piece of plastic drop cloth, then set your boots apart on it.
2. Spray-paint the boots further away in a well-ventilated area. Coat it as many times as you want, say, 3 or 4 times, until you achieve your desired result.
3. Let them dry.
5. Customize your purse with your old scarves.
What you’ll need: a scarf and a bag with a handle
How to do it:
1. Holding the 2 opposite corners, fold the scarf over to the center. Then take the folded side closest to you and fold it over to the other side.
2. Carefully go through the metal handle ring that attaches the handle to the bag. If your bag doesn’t have this ring, then loop the scarf around the handle attached to the bag and make a knot there.
3. Holding the knotted scarf, begin wrapping the handle. Do it in diagonal movements to avoid the fabric from slipping.
4. Keep wrapping until you get to the end of the handle.
5. Once you’re done with the wrapping, you have 2 options. If you have a handle ring, thread the end of the scarf through the ring. If you don’t have one, wrap it around the handle. After making sure there’s enough of the pointed end of the scarf to dangle, tie a knot.
6. Tie your belt differently.
What you’ll need: a long, skinny belt
How to tie it into a bow:
1. After achieving the tightness you desire, pull the long end through the buckle. Then tuck the long end up under the wrapped part.
2. After pulling that loop tighter, cross the long end over to the other side of the buckle. Twist the long end so that the backside of the belt will be seen. Then insert the long end back up from under the second side.
3. Pull the long end back to the section that goes through the middle to make an “X.”
4. Adjust your loops.
What you’ll need: a long, skinny belt
How to tie it into a classic knot:
1. Wrap the belt around your waist. Buckle it.
2. Take the tail end and go underneath the wrap, then pull it upward so that it forms a drop.
3. Insert the tail end into the drop.
4. Tighten it.
7. Upcycle your old jewelry into hair accessories.
For mini hair combs, you’ll need vintage brooches, clip-on earrings, metal hair combs (silver or gold), wire clippers, and glue (E6000).
How to do it:
1. With a pair of wire cutters, clip off the brooch’s pin from its back.
2. Ensure the backside is flat. Using your cutters, get rid of any raised edges.
3. Glue and stick the top of the hair comb onto the back of the brooch.
4. Let it dry for at least 12 hours before using it.
For necklace hairpieces, you’ll need rhinestone necklaces, metal hair combs (silver or gold), wire clippers, and glue (E6000).
How to do it:
1. Using the cutter, remove the clasp components from each end of the necklace.
2. Glue it on top of the hair combs.
3. Wait 12 hours for everything to dry completely.