Make Your Own: Handmade Faux Leather Bag

Photo: Cchobby.com

First, though, let’s answer a question you’re surely asking: What exactly is faux leather?
Faux leather is a product made from a material that falls somewhere between paper and leather. It is made from cellulose and latex.

You may also find it under names such as leather paper, kraft paper, or snap pap. Along with its interesting names, it has many uses and the properties of a leather product.

You can cut this paper, glue it, sew it, put it through an embossing machine, or decorate it using heat embossing and other techniques.

What’s more, it is very easy to work with. You can use faux leather to make everyday items such as bags, purses, wallets, planters, and just about anything you feel up to making.

How to make a handmade bag:

To start, you’ll need a strip of leather measuring 65 x 28 cm. At this size, the finished bag will be 23 cm tall. The bottom of the bag is a circle with a diameter of 19 cm. Cut out the pieces and soak them briefly in water. Leather paper is much easier to work with when it is damp. When soaked and crumpled, the leather takes on a rustic look that gives the finished product an interesting appearance.

Quick Tip

If you want a smaller bag, measure a strip that is 37 x 17 cm. In this case, the bottom is a circle with a diameter of 12 cm.

Photo: Cchobby.com

Join the ends of the cut strip, which need to be sewn together. You can use a sewing machine, but you can also sew it by hand. When you’re done, your piece should look like the one in the picture.

Photo: Cchobby.com

Now it’s time to attach the bottom to the bag. There are several ways to do this. One option is to use strong glue. We much prefer sewing it on, though. The process is the same as when you first sewed the sides of the leather paper together.

Quick tip

: Attaching the bottom can be a little tricky. are a great help. They’ll while you sew it together.

Photo: Cchobby.com

Finally, once your handmade bag is sewn together, simply turn the kraft paper inside out. The inside will become the outside. You can use paper printed with gold dots or flowers. Paper with a metallic finish is another interesting option. We haven’t tried it, but we’d love it if you gave it a go and sent us a photo of your finished piece.

You can fold over the top edge of the handmade bag, 2-3 cm from the top. The next picture shows how good it can look:

Photo: Cchobby.com

You can use this handmade bag as an interior decoration, a flower pot holder, a makeup holder, or a lovely gift for someone close to you.

Quick tip

If you’d like handles for your bag, cut two strips that are 2.5 cm wide and 25 cm long. Sew them to the inside, and you’ll have a bag you can on an adventure.

Products we used for this project:

Faux leather in various colors, available HERE.
Faux leather in metallic colors, available HERE.
Faux leather with a floral print, available HERE.
Faux leather with gold dots, available HERE.
Wooden clips, available HERE.

I hope you enjoy creative crafting as much as we do at ARTMiE. You can still share your creations on our social media. Tag us in a post on Instagram, or add your creation to our creative group Artmie Art Friends.

Have a beautiful and creative rest of your day

Lea