I’m ready for cooler weather and I made a DIY Fall sunflower purse wreath in anticipation! Yeah, not sure I should call it a wreath but that’s what I’m going with. Making wreaths out of purses is one of my favorite DIY’s. I mean how easy is it to stuff a bunch of pretty flowers in a purse and hang the purse by it’s straps on a door?
DIY Fall Sunflower Purse Wreath
This week we are celebrating 5 years of the Fall Ideas Tour. Each day we have a different décor focus and today is wreaths. The links to the tour are at the bottom of the post. Let’s get on with the purse wreath tutorial.
Fall Sunflower Wreath
Supplies Needed:
- Old Purse (mine came from my closet)
- Roll of Burlap
- Buffalo Check Fabric
- Flower Stems (Hobby Lobby)
- Recycled Flower Stems
- Black Spray Paint
I sometimes get tired of starting my wreath with a round grapevine wreath or anything round. Plus a purse makes such a nice wreath/door décor because it has a natural hanger…..aka straps. When I buy a new purse I usually save my old ones at least for a time. I like to buy quality purses and always get them on sale or at TJMaxx. They usually hold up well and I keep my favorites when I change to a new purse.
When I decided to make a purse wreath for Fall I searched the thrift stores and even bought a couple of thrifty purses with this project in mind. But when it came down to it I pulled this one from my purse stash. It fit my color scheme better.
My plan was to layer items in the purse. I found the roll of burlap in the workshop. I’m lucky to have a big stash of good junk.
The black and white buffalo check fabric is from Hobby Lobby. I had to get in on the buffalo check trend and black and white is one of my favorite color combos.
The bouquet of flowers came from Hobby Lobby too, half price of course. I like the colors in the bouquet, not too orange and bits of neutral colors. You can’t go wrong with sunflowers and pinecones.
For filler I pulled out Fall flowers from my flower stash. You never know what you might need.
Step 1. Arrange The Flowers In The Purse
Time to put the wreath/door décor together. The first layer I added to the purse was a piece cut from the burlap roll. Next I cut a strip of the black and white buffalo check fabric. At this point they are just kind of hanging out. Everything has to be adjusted and re-adjusted as things go in the purse.
The sunflower and pinecone flower bouquet was in a rounded bunch and I spread each piece out as far as I could without cutting the bouquet apart.
Then I stuffed the bouquet into the purse. At this point I’m looking at what I have and deciding I need a few more pops of black.
Step 2. Put The Finishing Touches On The Sunflower Purse Wreath
I took a few of the flower stems from my stash and spray painted them with Rustoleum Flat Black Primer. I thought the primer would stick well to the flowers and it did. The flat sheen is a plus-plus for this project.
You guys know those purses are floppy especially if you are holding them by the straps and trying to fill them up. I finally got smart and hung the purse on the workshop door so I could finish putting it together.
The flower bouquet was on the heavy side and it kept wanting to lean too far over the front of the purse. No problem. I stuffed the first thing I could find, a cloth shop towel, down in the purse in front of the bouquet to push it back.Sometimes you have to get creative. No one can see that shop towel and it worked! I added the curly cue Fall leaf stems and the painted black flowers to the purse. Then I did some adjusting and fluffing and more adjusting and fluffing.
Fall Sunflower Wreath
Step 3. Hang The DIY Sunflower Purse Wreath On The Door
Ta-Dah! All done. I could have went with a black purse or maybe a black purse and neutral no color flowers but where is the fun in that. You guys know I don’t care for matchy matchy.
I think the coolest part of the whole purse wreath is the spray painted black flowers. The most inexpensive part too. You never know what actually works until you start putting a project together. I probably should have painted those pale yellow flowers too. You will notice that I just left the raw edges of the buffalo check and the raw frayed edges of the burlap. Adds more depth (and it's easy). I should have added a bit more buffalo check fabric but this looks okay.
I used a wreath hanger and hung the purse from the straps. Our front door is blue and the wreath is a nice pop of color.
I had these awesome vintage shutters in the workshop. The wreath looks great against the worn shutters. I may put the shutters on the mantel later along with the wreath. What do you guys think of that idea?
I mentioned earlier this is the 5th year for our Fall Ideas Tour. Want to see my projects or displays from the past 4 years? Just click any of these links and when you get through viewing the Fall project you will be right back here….Antique Shutter Wreath 2015……Fall Mantel Décor 2016……Fall Birdhouse Flower Container 2017…… and for you recipe fans….Chile Ham Cheese Dip 2018.
Take The Fall Ideas Tour......
Wednesday - Fall Wreaths
Petticoat Junktion / Lora Bloomquist / Exquisitely Unremarkable
Bliss Ranch / The Interior Frugalista / Chatfield Court
Fall Mantels - Monday
Tuesday - Fall Tablescapes
Sand Dollar Lane / Aratari at Home / Nourish and Nestle
JenRon Designs /Salvaged Living / Our Southern Home
Thursday - Fall Crafts & DIY
Domestically Speaking / DIY Beautify
Homeroad / Christina Faye Repurposed
not pictured Weekend Craft
Friday - Porches
Cottage at the Crossroads / House of Hawthornes / Hymns and Verses
As always thanks for being here and have a great day, Kathy
Christy Little
You always amaze me with your creativity! I love how the fabric is left to hang out of the purse. It's perfect!
Leen Curinga
Kathy, you are si darn clever! Ive been looking for an affordable wall/door basket to make something similar but haven't been able to find one. I never would have thought to use a purse!!
Cindy
Kathy, this is just the cutest! Love the bright and happy look!!
Maryann
Genius Kathy!!! I love this idea. I need to go thrift store purse shopping now!
Susan Homeroad Stevenson
What a great idea! I love the use of the leather bag and the buffalo check. This makes a beautiful wreath for the fall!
Kristi @ Chatfield Court
So creative, Kathy! Loving how you used black and white with the sunflowers. And using a purse is genius!
Megan
WOW!! This is like perfect!! I Love it on the door!! So clever and Perfectly done!
Nancy
Amazing! So creative. Thanks for the inspiration.
Cathey Marker
Adorable idea, Kathy! And...so easy! Thanks for sharing this unique idea!
Kim Jones
Kathy, wow what a great idea for a wreath! You have done a wonderful job of upcycling! I love your wreath!
Lindsay Aratari
Such a great idea to use a purse, it's beautiful!
Lynn Spencer
Kathy...I LOVE that you worked with what you have! That is always my goal and sometimes I do better at it than other times. And the purse is a great idea...really nice to switch stuff up a bit.
Thanks for the inspiration.
So happy to join you on this fantastic blog tour!
Hugs, Lynn
Jen @ Jenron Designs
I love this idea so much! Anytime a door decor or wreath is made out of unexpected items it makes my heart flutter. I love your creativity, great job.
Kathy Owen
Thank you Jen!
Atta Girl Amy
You're just the craftiest and cleverist! Love your fall wreath, and this purse is perfect for fall!
Kathy Owen
Thank you Amy!
Lora Bloomquist
I love the textures you brought together here, Kathy: leather, burlap, fabric, flowers. And I've never thought about spray painting fake flowers; great tip! Love your unique "wreath"!
Kathy Owen
Thanks Lora. Yes, I think I'm going to be spray painting more flowers!
Marie
I love the purse idea, Kathy! I have a closet full of them collecting dust and was thinking of donating them. Not anymore. 🙂 The brown color is perfect with the pretty fall bouquet and i love the burlap and buffalo check draped over the front. Very pretty and looks awesome hanging on those gorgeous shutter doors of yours.
Kathy Owen
Thank you Marie!
Christina Woodcock
What an awesome way to use a purse! The colors are so beautiful for Fall. I love black and white check fabric with sunflowers and yours is beautiful Kathy 🙂
Kathy Owen
ah, thanks Christina!
[email protected]
What a great way to upcycle an old purse and create a pretty door display to enjoy for fall. The burlap and black and white fabric look great with the leather of the purse and the pretty florals that you used. I'll bet that guests will stop to admire this before entering your home.
Kathy Owen
Thanks Paula!
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge
Kathy, you always have the most creative ways to use your stash. This is so pretty with the pops of yellow and the black and white check. The burlap gives it the perfect amount of rustic texture. Now I'll be looking for old purses when I go out treasure hunting!
Kathy Owen
Thanks Angie!
Kim
What an absolutely darling idea and the thrifter in me loves the upcycle! I need to go check my closet.
Kathy Owen
Yes, recycling is always better....cheaper too!
Pam @ House Of Hawthornes
You are kidding me! That is so darn cute! Love the spray painted flower part!
Kathy Owen
Yeah, I thought the spray paint was genius, lol. Thanks Pam
Patti
Wow! A purse! Super creative Kathy. I love the burlap and buffalo check layers and the beautiful sunflowers look great with them. Love it!
Kathy Owen
Thank you Patti
Bliss
I love it, so cute! I used an old purse/tote thing one time for a wreath, it was on it's way to the trash and I looked at it funny, next thing I knew I was hanging it on the door!
Kathy Owen
We are so much alike! Thanks Bliss
Susie | Chelsea Project
Love this idea so much!! I'm loaded with outdated purses and my car knows the way to Michael's all by itself. LOL... I plan to try this ASAP.. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!! Happy Fall. XO
Kathy Owen
Thanks Susie!
Nancy
Love it -- and all of your ideas!
Kathy Owen
ah, thanks Nancy!