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XOXO Heart Clutch DIY

Accessories, Celebrate, Crafts, D.I.Y. Project, DIY Gifts, Fashion, Homemade Gifts, Sewing, Style, Valentine's Day
By Laura Gummerman

XOXO Heart Clutch DIY abeautifulmess.com So, I have been thinking for the past few months how much I really need (and by “really need” I mean “totally want”) a pink clutch. I don’t generally dress head-to-toe pink, but I do love a pop of the color when I want to feel extra girly. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought it was the perfect time to make a bag I could take on my Valentine’s date and then wear it the rest of the year as well. Here’s what I did:

XOXO Heart Clutch DIY abeautifulmess.com Supplies:
-Pink and white leather (real or faux)*,
-leather glue
-pink zipper
-fabric scissors
-craft paper
-leather needle for sewing machine

1. Cut a heart out of craft paper to use as a template for your clutch. Lay the heart on your pink leather and trace around the edge. Cut out heart shape (this will be your top piece).

2. Make a line near the middle of your paper heart* and trace the top half (above the line) onto your leather. Move the heart template down an inch and trace the bottom part of the heart (below the line) onto the leather. This extra space is where you’ll insert the zipper so the heart shape remains in tact once the zipper is put in. (Note: I made the placement of the zipper based on where my 9″ zipper would fit exactly across the back. If you’re using a longer zipper, just make the line in the middle and pin the zipper so the bottom of the zipper hangs off the edge). Draw a dotted line down the middle of your inch between the heart halves.

3. Cut out your heart halves and cut on the dotted line.

4. Take your zipper, open it and turn it face down. Lay the left edge of the zipper even with the left edge of the top piece of the heart. Pin zipper in place. Use a zipper foot to sew that side of the zipper (use a leather needle on your machine).

5. Once that zipper side is attached, fold the zipper back, switch back to a standard foot on your machine, and sew down your fabric 1/4″ from the zipper to keep the zipper folded in place.

6. Repeat process on the other side so the heart can zip together.

7. Cut your letters out of your white leather and use the leather glue to adhere the letters to the front panel (I found it easiest to print a font the size I wanted, cut out the paper letters, and then trace them onto the leather).

8. Cut a strip of leather about an inch wide and sew into a loop to create a handle. Glue the handle onto the inside edge of the back heart panel. Trim, fold, and hand sew the zipper excess into the inside of the heart panel. Place glue around the outside edges of the wrong sides of both heart panels and glue the two together.

9. Once the glue has dried, sew around the edge of the clutch with a 1/4″ seam allowance. You’re done!

*If using real leather, you want the pink to be thick enough to keep its shape, but thin enough to sew through two layers of it on your sewing machine. Also, make sure to choose leather for the pink and white that holds its shape and doesn’t fray at the edges when cut.

XOXO Heart Clutch DIY abeautifulmess.comXOXO Heart Clutch DIY abeautifulmess.com XOXO Heart Clutch DIY abeautifulmess.com The look of the clutch is obviously inspired by the classic conversation heart candy, but it’s still a bag I can use long after V-Day. Another thing that’s fun about this bag is that you can customize it to say whatever you want! I asked my husband Todd what it should say, and he suggested the phrase, “Clutch Me.” Dang, that’s good. I may just have to make another one… xo. Laura

Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman

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