El rincón de Vanessa

It’s that time of year when invites start to pour in for summer weddings, showers & engagement parties. And even if you’re not invited to a million weddings, you’re probably anticipating a graduation, prom or going to someone’s communion. Yep, you’ve got a ton of events to go to & surely that means picking up new outfits & accessories.

One thing’s for sure though, a classy statement clutchcan go a long way as an accessory & makes sure that you’re only carrying around the bare essentials. Today we’re going to make a minaudiere-style clutch inspired by an Alexander McQueen skull clutch. The great thing about this DIY is that it can cost under $20 and you can be completely creative with how you embellish it!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- a large glasses case
- a fancy cabinet knob
- a power drill
- goop craft glue
- embellishments (like rhinestones, beads, studs etc)
- chain (optional)

[ DRILL ] – Figure out which drill bit to use based on the size of your hardware & pick your spot to drill! You might need a friend to hold onto the case while you drill. Be careful!

[ ADD HARDWARE ] – Insert your hardware into the hole you drilled. Most hardware simply comes with a screw; I had to grab an extra washer & nut just to make sure the hardware could be screwed tight onto the thin case (because most of this hardware is meant to be set onto a thick cabinet door!)

[ PICK DESIGN ] – I started off thinking that I would use rainbow rhinestones but then I changed my mind because… I’m more of a black and white sorta girl.

[ FIND INSPIRATION ] – I ended up finding inspiration from this McQueen Skull Clutch because I loved the two-tone style & the mix of jewels & natural shell beads

[ GLUE ] – Carefully glue on your beads and studs a few at a time. I applied glue in one or two inch sections and then carefully placed the beads on a few at a time.

[ COVER ] – Completely cover the case with your embellishments! This took me over 6 hours in a couple sittings because I was being really meticulous with bead placement but it was relaxing & not difficult at all. Make sure to let the glue dry for 24 hours before using it.

[ ADD CHAIN ] – This step is optional but if you hate having your hands full, it’s nice to have the option of pulling out a shoulder strap! Just glue the chain to the inside top of the clutch & you can tuck the chain away when you’re not using it :)