How to paint a leather bag or leatherette handbag

A handbag is an accessory without which it is difficult to imagine a modern girl. Everyone has at least one, or even several, in their arsenal for different occasions. Some are more suitable for shopping, others - for the beach, others - for work or school, but this cute little clutch goes perfectly with your favorite dress. As for materials, today there is also a great variety of them - leather and leatherette, textiles, jute, straw, even wood and plastic.

Leather bags have been popular for many years, and this is easy to explain. The material is distinguished by strength, durability, attractive appearance and pleasant to the touch texture. Bags made of genuine leather are not cheap, but they can serve their owner faithfully for many years.

Leatherette has one advantage - its price is significantly lower. But the quality, of course, is somewhat inferior. However, modern manufacturers offer options for eco-leather (leatherette), which in appearance and sometimes even in smell are not inferior to their original.

New technologies make it possible to achieve decent quality material without sacrificing appearance.

It’s up to you to decide what to choose – a bag made of genuine leather or a leatherette product for which no animal skin was used. Today we will figure out how you can update or change the color of your favorite handbag at home.

How can you lubricate a leather bag?

To do this, use hand moisturizer. Castor oil, petroleum jelly or glycerin are also suitable for these actions, but these products are best used for black bags with a smooth or wrinkled surface. These products are not suitable for light, soft skin.

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What you need for painting

It is best to purchase water- or oil-based paints. They mix well with each other, which allows you to create the most interesting shades and undertones. Some products come with fixatives; for others, you will have to prepare the fixing solution yourself.

Dye

Compositions for coloring leather are sold in different forms:

• sprays, aerosols - they are convenient for painting large-area products, having previously covered the fittings;
• bottles, jars - such paints are applied with sponges and brushes;
• tubes - thick products fit well on the skin using a tampon or sponge, are well absorbed and dry quickly;
• containers with powder - dry paints are intended for preparing a solution and soaking products for the purpose of painting.

Liquid or paste paints for leather, for the most part, are based on acrylic, as well as various polymers. They create a durable coating, give the product wear resistance, and are sold in a rich range of colors.

There are paints on sale with special effects - matte, wrinkled, shiny, metallic shine, etc. Light items can be tinted in darker colors, and bags of rich, deep shades should be painted only in the main tone, covering scuffs.

Fixer

Most paints come with a ready-made fixative. Its use is a mandatory step in coloring the bag, otherwise the pigment will not be durable. If necessary, prepare the fixative yourself:

• take 1 liter of water;
• add a glass of table vinegar;
• add a tablespoon of salt to the solution.

The fixative is applied to the bag after the dye has dried. It will help reduce the rate of pigment fading and allow the color to remain bright and shining for a long time.

Tools

Depending on the type of paint and the specific brand, the work may require:

• deep container (preferably enameled);
• rubber gloves;
• sponge or brush;
• ethanol;
• acetone;
• ammonia;
• soft fabric napkins made of terry, wool;
• water;
• soap.

Features of dyeing suede leather

In order for a suede item to be dyed evenly, it must be treated with a product containing aniline. This dye is diluted with warm water (1.5 liter bag), then rubbed into the suede using a stiff brush. Repeat the procedure 4-5 times, let the bag dry, then rinse it in cold water with the addition of vinegar (make a weak solution). Dry the product naturally at a temperature of +16...+20 degrees, then lift the pile with a rubber brush or a regular school eraser.

Traditional methods

You can also resort to folk methods, which, most likely, were used by our grandmothers. Here are some simple ideas:

• Using egg white is a good idea, but you need to beat it well.
• If the bag is made of light leather, then a good option is to use diluted lemon juice.
• A dark model can be rubbed with strong tea or coffee, leaving the product on the material for a while.

Important! A solution of glycerin, water and a small amount of soap will not change the shade, but it will add gloss and a new effect to the material.

Progress of the process

It is necessary to adhere to the following algorithm:

1. The surface of the bag is thoroughly cleaned so that no dirt stains remain on the leather. Next, the surface for degreasing is treated with alcohol.
2. Using a swab with paint, apply it with soft strokes along the seams and the most worn out places, and then in a circular motion - and over the entire leather surface. There is no need to press on the sponge - the paint will be absorbed by itself.
3. When the dye is completely applied to the leather and has been absorbed, the bag is polished with a cotton rag.
4. After complete drying, the surface is wiped with a cloth soaked in fixative.

That's all: your fashionable leather accessory looks like new again.

Painting on leather with acrylic paints

Acrylic coatings allow you to create the most original patterns on leather products: you just need to approach the issue creatively.

Necessary materials for work

In addition to the bag you will need:

• stencils;
• cotton pads;
• paints;
• degreaser;
• tassels;
• Double-sided tape.

Features of painting on leather with acrylic paints using stencils

Before work, you need to check how leather or suede behaves when applying paint. To do this, testing is carried out on an inconspicuous (internal) area, applying a drop of paint and leaving it for an hour. The easiest way to paint smooth leather bags is that the paint goes on perfectly evenly. On synthetics, acrylic can accumulate in the form of drips, individual drops, and is poorly absorbed, so the result is not always ideal.

The order of painting the bag will be as follows:

1. Treat the surface with a solvent (degreaser) using a cloth or cotton wool. The paint will go on smoother after this procedure.
2. Stencils are applied to the bag and secured securely with double-sided tape. Afterwards, acrylic paint is applied to the base (brush, spray). The layer should not be too thick.
3. You can print stencils on paper, take them online, draw them yourself, or buy them in a store. Patterns based on leaves, parts of plants, flowers or other natural materials will look original. They are simply laid out on a plane and the free areas are sprayed with paint.

Some craftsmen make designs on leather using the “hot batik” technique: they apply the pattern with wax, paraffin, after melting the material in a water bath. Then the bag is painted with a brush, and the wax is removed as the paint dries. You can also transform the bag in an original way using ordinary tape: it is pasted in stripes, checkered patterns, or in the form of a different pattern, and the open areas are covered with paint. After completing the work, the surface is moistened with a fixative and the product is allowed to dry.

Painting a leather bag using the dot pattern method

To work, you will need alcohol or another degreaser, a foam sponge, a set of acrylic paints in tubes with a thin spout, a pencil or chalk. The actions will be as follows:

• degrease the surface with a sponge soaked in solvent;
• let the skin dry;
• apply a drawing with a simple pencil or chalk (depending on the main tone of the bag), if you do not have artistic skills, you can use a decal or stencil;
• starting work from the central part of the drawing, make its contours with dots of the same size at an equal distance from each other;
• using different colors and textures to give the picture a complete look.

Updating an old bag is an easy and fun process. With the right and creative approach, the result will be magnificent, and the worn-out product will last for many more years, delighting the owner!

Additional recommendations:

• If vinegar as a fixer does not suit you because of its specific smell, then you can purchase a special acrylic fixer. Of course, the smell will be less pungent, but it will still be present. You can find this product in any relevant household chemicals store.
• Paint the bag in a well-ventilated area or in the shade outside. Under no circumstances should you be exposed to sources of open rays.
• A wool rag can be used instead of a sponge.
• It doesn’t matter how high-quality the paint is, the pre-cleaning stage of the surface is mandatory in any case.
• Hair dryers, fireplaces, browsers and other similar sources should not be used to speed up the drying process. It is best if everything goes away by itself - naturally.
• The item will be irreparably damaged if you try to repaint it from one color to another. You can only return the shade that the item had at the very beginning or change it to one of the closest tones of the same color.
• Try to keep your bag away from the washing machine. Do not hang wet clothes in the closet where the item is hanging. Then the coloring process will have to be carried out much less frequently.

Important! For something made of artificial material, you will need to degrease the surface more than before painting a bag made of genuine leather.

Dry powder with coloring pigment

This is another option to achieve the desired result. This common remedy is prepared as follows:

1. Dilute the powder in warm water in the required ratio.
2. Strain the resulting liquid and pour it into one or two liters of water.
3. Place on the fire and bring to a boil.
4. Allow the solution to cool, after which it is ready for use.

Important! In order for all the air to escape from the pores of the material, it is necessary to carry out some manipulation. Place the bag in water for several hours. It is very important that it is well soaked. All this is necessary for even coloring.

Surface preparation

Careful preparation for painting a leather bag is the key to a satisfactory result. First of all, after drying the bag, degrease it with napkins or cotton pads moistened with an alcohol solution. Joints, folds, handles, decorative elements and fittings are treated especially carefully. For stubborn stains, ammonia is a good solvent to use. In order for the paint to lay evenly, all water-repellent layers on the skin should be removed. Most often this is wax, which most manufacturers impregnate the skin with. As it wears out, it is spontaneously removed at folds and in places where frequent breaks occur. In areas where the wax is preserved, the paint will not be absorbed into the skin. To avoid this, such areas must be treated with a mixture of alcohol and acetone in equal proportions. It is not recommended to wash the bag with detergents, because... Soap residues in the pores of the skin will lead to poor absorption of the dye. This means that the paint will not apply evenly and will not last long. The best cleanser for leather is ethyl alcohol. A napkin is moistened in it and wrung out so that it is not wet, but damp. After which they wipe the entire bag with it, paying special attention to clearly visible stains. If you are planning to get a checkered or striped pattern, you can stick tape in places that you do not want to paint over in the “working” color.

Clean the surface before painting