Purse charms add bling
Use charms to make changing purses a snap for dressy events
By DENA FISHBEIN Special to the News

Usually, changing purses is an elaborate ritual. We pull out everything from one handbag and stuff it all into another, often under the mystified gaze of a child or significant other wondering when, if ever, we will be ready to leave the house. More than one woman has been asked, "What on earth was wrong with the other purse?"

The answer is, "Nothing," of course. Nothing except that it didn't match the moment, mood or outfit. And while I would never suggest that it's a bad thing to migrate from one purse to another as often as you wish, I do think it can be a trifle inconvenient _ especially when there's a much easier way to fancy up that handbag.

With a purse charm, you can give the same bag a different look in the blink of an eye. For my purse charms, I've used bold fabric flowers and crystal pendants, bunches of ribbons and more. But once you get the basic idea down, you'll see that just about anything can ornament a handbag.

You'll need the following for the project: Fabric flower and leaves; Lobster claw clasp; Chandelier crystal; Key ring; Medium-gauge craft wire; Wire cutters or scissors; Needle-nose pliers.

Thread the ends of a length of wire through or around the center of the fabric flower. Thread another length of wire around the stem of each leaf. Gather the wires and use the pliers to wrap them around the ring at the bottom of the lobster clasp. Trim the excess wire. Thread a length of wire through the chandelier crystal and the bottom of the flower. Using the pliers, form a small loop at each end to secure. Trim the excess wire.

Now, attach the clasp to the key ring and the key ring to the purse handle.

If attaching the charm using a standard key ring won't work with your bag, try a hinged binder ring (from an office supply store) or, for an even more secure attachment, use a rock-climber's carabeener (from a sporting goods store). Binder rings and carabeeners come in various sizes and weights, so you can choose according to your needs.

(Dena Fishbein hosts the television show "Embellish This!" aired monthly on the DIY Network. To ask her how to embellish anything, email her at dena(at)denadesigns.com. For more information, visit diynetwork.com.)