Upcycled Piano Virtuoso Clutch

Let's start with the inspiration: There's a super cute Kate Spade Piano Recital clutch floating around the world of fashion somewhere. Unfortunately, however, it's expensive. Like $375 expensive. Eh, I think I can do better (or at least a lot cheaper - in the neighborhood of less than $5).

With this tutorial, you can take a $0.99 thrifted purse and turn it into a high-fashion-inspired masterpiece!

For more fashion and home tutorials, visit my blog at Shrimp Salad Circus!

Step 1: What You Need

If you find a purse at the thrift shop and already have a couple brushes lying around, you should be able to make this bag for under $5 total. That's a pretty steep discount over Kate Spade, no?!

• black acrylic patio paint
• fine-tip Sharpie
• paintbrushes - one as wide as your piano keys and one thin
• straight edge (I ended up using a paperback book instead.)
• white leather or vinyl purse or clutch

Comments

[Yashfa Zafar]

This is brilliant!

[Cyberscann54]

kinda neat well im a guy so i stick to pocket sized wallets back packs or messenger bags so a purse or clutch is not my thing but it would be so much cooler if you could play it

[WurdBendur]

It would be simple to buy a cheap toy keyboard and put the switches for the keys inside. There are Instructables for making fabric pressure sensors that could function as the keys.

[ShrimpSaladCircus]

Thanks, D.W. - that's brilliant, though it's totally out of my crafting/electronics league!

[Ysabeau]

I'm totally unable to make it, but this is an awesome idea.

[ShrimpSaladCircus]

You might be surprised, Y! If you can sew (which it looks like you can from your cute little coffee cutlery roll), then painting a quick little project shouldn't be any problem for somebody so talented! :D

[jbarnhart1]

The piano key arrangement is incorrect, though. The black keys on a piano are in sets of 2, 3, 2, 3, etc. You have 1, 2, 2, 3, 1. The one black key alone is fine, that can happen at the bottom or top end, but two sets of 2 would never happen.

[ShrimpSaladCircus]

Thanks for letting me know, j. To be totally honest, I just drew some lines to get the idea of a piano across, but next time I'll look it up to be more accurate, as you make a great point!

[scoochmaroo]

Very clever. You're on fire lately!

[ShrimpSaladCircus]

Thanks - I've obviously been away from Instructables for way too long, I suppose! It's good - and very good motivation - to be participating again!