Glam Green DIY Pallet Scrap Handbag Planter

There’s a certain allure to transforming discarded objects into unique home décor. It’s what makes the whole process of upcycling so magical. It redefines our idea of waste and breathes new life into throw-away stuff. And that’s exactly what we did in today’s DIY tutorial. Meet the “Glam Green,” rustic, pallet scrap handbag planter.

Making one is a great beginner project for anyone who enjoys upcycling and gardening. And it’s easy to customize too. My planter oozes rustic charm with its rope handles …..

….. and a GrowGirl sign. Our green friends also need a little encouragement every now and again 😉

This upcycled planter is ideally suited to plants that don’t require much water. I planted a variegated Hoya inside my handbag. In Summer, she produces fragrant, ball-like flowers that last for about a week and she thrives in dry environments.

Succulents like Echeveria and Sedum, along with trailing plants like String of Pearls or Ivy, are excellent choices too. They’ll all bring a touch of nature without overwhelming the design of the pallet handbag.

Okay, before I show you how to make a handbag planter using pallet scraps, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

What you need

For this upcycle project you’ll need scrap wood, rope, chicken wire, wood glue, screws, and craft paint. I used pallet off-cuts that I’d been saving to make a sign, but never got around to doing.

When it comes to tools you’ll need a jigsaw or hand saw, embroidery needle, staple gun, and drill. If you’ve never used a jigsaw this beginner tutorial will help. Depending on the condition of the wood and the look you’re going for you may need a sander to smooth out any rough edges.

How to Make a Pallet Handbag Planter

I love working with pallets. Every scratch, ding, and weathered patina tells a story. They always bring a sense of history and authenticity to whatever you end up making. My pallet scraps have been outside for a loooooong time. They oozed raw rusticness. A little too much for my liking, so I gave them a light sanding to remove years’ worth of grime and get rid of any splinters. Be sure to wear a dust mask.

Cutting the basic handbag shape

Sketch a handbag shape to use as a cutting template. Take into account how wide your pallet scraps are, and how many you’ve got, and adapt the design accordingly. My finished planter is roughly 25cm ( 9 3/4″) tall and 38cm (15″) wide at the top, tapering down to 27cm (10.5″) at the bottom. The width of the inside planting area is 18cm (7″) wide at the top and 13cm (5″) at the bottom. Lay the pallet pieces long-side to long-side and trace the sketch onto the pallets.

Cut smaller scraps into strips. We’ll use these strips to join the pallet wood together as shown below.

Once the pallet scraps are joined, cut the handbag shape out with a jigsaw or table saw. You’ll need two equally shaped pieces; one for the front and one for the back of the handbag.

I cut out a small curved shape at the top, so the handbag would look less “blocky” and more “baggy” 😀

Dress up the handbag front and back before putting it all together. I had a picture in my head of a handbag with hand-stitched seams down the sides. I’m not a big bag aficionado, but I think glam bags have something similar. Anyhoos, to add the stitching I marked every inch and drilled a small hole on the mark.

And then gave the handbag a quick coat of paint.

I’m partial to the whole distressed look, so after the paint dried the handbag got another light sanding.

Do whatever makes you happy. I would suggest sealing the wood with polyurethane or varnish of some sort. It helps protect the wood from the elements and keeps the planter looking good for many years. Use an embroidery needle and twine to sew the seams.

Adding rope handles

I was in two minds about how to make handles for the handbag. I could either repurpose straps from one of my broken bags or use a rope like we did when we made our toolbox caddy. None of the handles I have in my “to be repurposed” stash seemed right, so thick rope would have to do. Cut a length of rope and tie a knot on either end. Glue and screw the handles on.

Making the handbag sides and inner

To join the pallet front and back bits together to form a handbag, I used chicken wire. It serves two purposes; the wire provides natural drainage and it’s an easy way to create sides for the handbag, without worrying about what angle I should cut a piece of wood. To make the sides, I cut a long piece of chicken wire and used a brick to smack gently bend the wire into a “U” shape.

To attach the chicken wire, start at the bottom of the pallet front and back and staple it in place, as shown below. You can nail the chicken wire in place too.

Squish a layer of coconut fiber against the chicken wire on the inside of the pallet bag. It helps keep the soil inside.

Wood rots over time. Unless it’s something like Meranti or Cedar. My pallet scraps are pine, so to protect the inside from water damage, I made a quick and easy landscape inner.  A plastic bag will also work.

Fill the bag with soil and pop your plant inside. Opt for plants that thrive in small spaces or containers, like the Hoya.

She’s easy to care for and loves climbing and hanging, which makes her perfect for something like this.

Talking about hanging, the handbag would look lovely hanging from the wall or a sturdy branch. The rope handles are strong enough to uuuummmmm handle it 🙂

I would, however, suggest putting the rope handles around the bottom of the bag to help support the weight.

I love how easy this one was to put together. For me, the transformation from discarded pallet scraps to a Green Glam handbag planter is a testament to how the seemingly ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary. But what do you think? Is it something you would make for your home?

If you like the idea of making a pallet scrap handbag planter, don’t forget to pin it for later.

Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.

And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.