5 Amazing Upcycled Purses Made with Surprising Materials (VIDEOS)

If you want to make a purse that also makes a fashion statement, you don't need to settle for a simple clutch or over-the-shoulder number. We've found five how-to videos to teach you to make a bag out of an antique book, an old pair of jeans, worn out records and more. Watch below for some amazing refashioning ideas.

Learn to Sew Simple Bags at Craftsy!

Have an old book with a look you love and pages you've read before? As long as it isn't a valuable piece of literary history and you've got a glue gun, some leather straps, fabric, a needle and thread, you can turn it into a high-minded purse (that gives a whole new twist on the term book bag).

Ever gone on a thrift store shopping spree and seen a gazillion old ties you wish there was something you could use them for? Today is your lucky day. You can not only turn several old neckties into fabric, you can then sew that fabric into a purse. Lori W shows a purse that her mom made using a necktie. Not exactly a how-to video, but still very inspiring.

As Crafty Amy explains, there's no right or wrong way to make a vinyl record purse, but chances are you're going to need to be comfortable with a hot iron to help melt that wax. Also make sure the records you're about to turn into a super cool clutch aren't ones you ever want to play again. Watch Amy's video a few times before you start to make sure you have all of the material and tools you need.

There are a lot of different video tutorials about upcycling jeans into a purse. The nice thing about this how-to from ReUseTV is the clean imagery and careful step-by-step instructions. It takes a moment to get used to the narrator's accent, but once you do, everything should make sense.

Anyone clever enough to turn an old VHS tape into a purse will have an instant conversation piece over her shoulder. It's tough to know how long a "vintage" plastic videotape case will last, but as long as it does, you have an accessory everyone will be ogling.