Women's leather bags, which are used daily, are often painted in light colors. Over time, the paint for leather products wears off in folds and folds, and the bag takes on an unkempt appearance. Washing and brushing have no effect. To renew the leather, which will last for many more years, the bags are repainted. We will list the ways in which this is done, including with your own hands, and tell you how to paint a leather bag with different compositions.
Is it possible to dye a leather bag?
An easy way to paint your bag yourself is to use leather paint in a can, which is sold in shoe stores. The disadvantage of this method is that there is a narrow range of colors; only basic shades are available. Before spraying paint on the bag, try it on an experimental piece so as not to ruin the entire product. If the paint in the can is too contrasting with the original paint, you may end up with streaks on the bag. Therefore, it is wise to choose a tone as close to the original as possible. At home, with your own hands, radically repainting the skin with aerosols, turning it from black to white is almost impossible. Another way to paint a bag is not a solid color, but dotted or patterned coloring, designed to disguise problem areas. For these purposes, acrylic compounds are used, which form an elastic film. The third way to recolor a bag is to order a dry cleaning service. But, as practice shows, the quality of painting a bag this way leaves much to be desired. The fourth way to refresh a “tired” leather bag is to take it to a shoe repair shop for repainting. They know exactly how to dye this or that leather; they use professional leather compounds that are impossible to buy in regular stores. Plus – the skillful hands of a craftsman who is guaranteed to paint the leather product without streaks.
Features of dyeing suede leather
To dye a suede bag evenly, you will need a dye containing aniline. One packet of this dye is diluted in 1.5 liters of warm water, after which the solution is rubbed into the suede with a stiff brush. These steps are repeated 4-5 times, after which the bag is rinsed in a weak solution of vinegar added to cold water. Vinegar fixes the dye, after which the bag is dried at 16-20 degrees Celsius, i.e. under normal conditions. When the suede is dry, it is treated with a school eraser or a rubber brush to lift the pile and give the surface a matte finish. For suede, as for regular smooth leather, you cannot use universal dyes for different materials. Only aniline compounds for suede leather! Also, when buying dye, make sure it is dye and not toner. Another nuance when working with suede is that the consumption of the coloring composition on it will always be greater than on smooth leather. Therefore, buy paint with a reserve, 2 times more than recommended in the instructions. This is interesting: how and with what to paint leatherette.
Dyed suede bag
Required tools and material
If you want to paint your bag and not ruin it, first of all, find a product intended for natural leather, and do not use anything (green paint, iodine, felt-tip pens, gel pens, paint dyes, watercolors, etc.). Leather dyes are made on a water or oil basis, they are equally good. If you decide to turn the bag into an original work of art, i.e. not just paint it one tone, but really paint it, then for the work you will need:
- the bag itself;
- tassels;
- stencils;
- paints;
- double sided tape;
- cotton pads;
- degreaser.
Pay attention to: How to correctly, quickly and beautifully paint different types of wallpaper on the ceiling and walls
Acrylic paints, which create an elastic film, are considered optimal for painting on leather. On smooth leather they lie smoothly, but on suede the result may be unexpected. It is better not to experiment with artificial leather; the paint on it is poorly absorbed, so drips and drops form where it is not needed. High-quality leather dyes are often sold in tubes; they are more effective than aerosol or packaged in bottles. You can use available natural dyes. Lemon juice works like a bleach on fair skin. A brown bag can be refreshed with strong tea or coffee infusion.
Brushes
Set of wooden stencils
Double sided tape
Cotton pads
Leather degreaser
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:
- Treat the surface with a solvent (degreaser) using a cloth or cotton wool. The paint will go on smoother after this procedure.
- 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.
- 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!
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
Dry powder with coloring pigment
This is another option to achieve the desired result. This common remedy is prepared as follows:
- Dilute the powder in warm water in the required ratio.
- Strain the resulting liquid and pour it into one or two liters of water.
- Place on the fire and bring to a boil.
- 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.
Painting technology
The place where the bag will be painted should be covered with newspapers or rags. This is done on a table or on the floor. You need to work with rubber gloves. A dishwashing sponge or paint brush is soaked in dye, if it is liquid, and the paint is rubbed in a circular motion over the entire surface of the product, carefully working out hard-to-reach places and folds. First of all, all folds and difficult places are impregnated with the composition, after which the entire remaining surface is treated. There is no point in being too zealous when applying paint; the dye itself should be absorbed into the skin; you should not rub it in hard. The second way to paint with a liquid composition is to spread it evenly over the entire surface with a brush and leave the product for half an hour to absorb. After this, the bag is polished with a soft cloth. If the paint is an aerosol, then it is sprayed from a distance of 15-20 cm, intensively treating the handles, folds around the fittings, drapery, folds. Leave the products alone until dry, after which the bags are painted again. In the case of aerosols, you will need to apply several layers. And with liquid thick paint it is enough to treat the skin twice, although to ensure accuracy, it is advisable to saturate the broken areas with paint more thoroughly. When the last layer of paint is absorbed and completely dry, the painted bag is treated with a fixative. In most cases, it is sold complete with a coloring composition. Apply the fixing composition with a moistened cloth or using a sprayer. After the last composition has dried, the leather is polished with a soft rag. A special case is the painting of bags with powder dyes. The pigment powder is diluted with water according to the recommendations for the product. The finished solution is heated to 40-43 degrees in a deep enamel bowl or pan. If the bag needs deep restoration, it is completely immersed in the solution and kept in it for up to 12 hours, turning it over periodically. If deep restoration is not required, then the powder pigment solution is applied like ready-made liquid paint. After the last layer of paint has dried, the leather is treated with a fixative. If it was not included with the paint, you can buy a separate product for fixing acrylic paints. You can also make it yourself by dissolving 1 tbsp in 1 liter of water. a spoonful of salt and 1 glass of vinegar.
Advice! Add a few drops of castor oil to your paint! Castor oil will provide UV resistance, which will preserve the bright color of the bag for a long time.
Painting process
Care after coloring
Proper care of a repainted bag is the key to its long-term use. Such an accessory should only be stored in a closet; a leather bag should not be thrown on the floor. Permanent deformations are not allowed, so heavy items should not be placed on top of the bag. The skin must constantly breathe, so the bag cannot be stored in plastic bags. If an item is sent for long-term storage, then it must be packed in a natural fabric bag and placed in a place protected from light. It is recommended to spray a bag that is used regularly twice a month with acrylic or silicone spray to protect it from snow and rain. The water-repellent composition will protect against excess moisture, dirt, and dust. Thanks to this, the life of the product will increase significantly. If after dyeing a bag made of genuine leather has become hard, then castor oil will return its softness. A small amount of oil should be rubbed into the skin and allowed to be absorbed, it will become elastic and soft.
Impregnation with a protective agent
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.
