There's nothing wrong with a plain purse. But some occasions call for a bit more sparkle. Add beads, sequins, and pretty fabric to a simple bag -- and suddenly it's a dazzling clutch, ready for a night out.

Leather medium pouch, in Gold, $40, baggu.com

Use these pouches to hold cash, credit cards, keys, a phone, or makeup.

Small leather carryall pouch, in Black, $28, americanapparel.net

Cut fabrics to fit, stitch on beads, sew fabrics together, glue to bag -- and you're good to go.

Medium leather coin purse, in Black, $20, americanapparel.net

Loose seed and bugle beads, in various colors, $1.75 for 7.5 g, firemountaingems.com. Circle bugle-bead trim, 1", in Gunmetal (#20219), $16 per yd., and cut bugle and seed bead trim, in Gold (#14688), $12 per yd., mjtrim.com. Various fabrics, by B&J Fabrics, 212-354-8150, and NY Elegant Fabrics, 212-302-4980. Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive, $15 for 5.6 oz., quiltingwarehouse.com.

Left: Leather small pouch, in Gold, $20, baggu.com

1. Cut Fabrics

Using a pencil, lightly trace the shape of the bag onto the fabric you plan to bead. Cut that piece 1/2 inch to 1 inch smaller than the trace line. Trace again onto a contrasting piece of fabric, and cut 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch smaller than the trace line.

2. Sew Beads and Trim

Stitch seed beads, bugle beads, and sequins onto smaller piece of fabric, or glue beaded trim directly onto bag. If the fabric has a pattern, accentuate it -- outline a polka dot with sequins, echo stripes or plaids with bugle beads, or dot seed beads onto flowers.

Left: Leather small pouch, in Black, $20, baggu.com

3. Attach to Bag

Fold the edges of the beaded piece under, and stitch to larger bottom piece; spray adhesive to the back of bottom piece, and press to bag.

Left: Small leather carryall pouch, in Stone, $28, americanapparel.net

This bag will also fit an iPad, with plenty of room left over. (What else could you possibly need?)

Medium leather carryall pouch, in Rust, $46, americanapparel.net

Customize these for your friends, using fabric and embellishments in their favorite colors.

Small leather coin purse, in Bone, $15, americanapparel.net