Paper Purses

What girl doesn't love a new purse? Maybe there are a few free spirits out there unburdened by ten pounds of lip gloss, day planners, tissues and keys, but even those ladies will be able to appreciate these purses!

Paper purses are more versatile than you might think. They can be made into party invitations, favors, mini albums, greeting cards, or even small gift or note holders. I've got a few cuties to share with you, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you start you won't be able to stop creating adorable paper purses.

Post-it Note Holder

This smaller paper purse is used to house a block of Post-it Notes. It's handy for use beside the telephone or in your handbag for taking notes on the run.

Supplies:

• double -sided patterned paper (Making Memories)
• ribbon (Offray)
• Post-it Note Pad
• self-stick hook-and-loop tape
• paper trimmer with scoring blade or a bone folder,
• embellishments to coordinate with your theme.

Directions: Trim your double-sided patterned paper to 9" x 3 1/8". Going from right to left score your holder at 2 ¾", 3", 6", and 6 ¼". The area between 3" and 6" is where your Post-it Note Pad sits. Fold your cover at the scored areas upwards to create overlapping flaps. Trim your top flap into a soft point. Use self-stick hook-and-loop tape to create a closure for your mini purse. Apply adhesive along the top edge between the two score marks and attach your ribbon handle. Tie in a knot and trim edges at an angle. Embellish as you would like.

Purses are a great way to send invitations for slumber parties, makeover or dress-up parties, or even for adult ladies' social activities. Imagine a cute purse-shaped invite for a bridal shower or mother-daughter event.

Supplies:

• double-sided patterned papers (Making Memories)
• ribbon (Offray)
• self-stick hook-and-loop tape
• ¼" hole punch (Fiskars)
• button or brad for closure

Directions: Fold your patterned paper in half. Using the fold as the bottom of your purse trace your purse shape onto the side of your patterned paper that will be inside the purse. Your purse can be circular, triangle-shaped, or a basic square with rounded corners. Just remember to create your basic shape with the fold at the bottom. Also be sure to create some kind of closure for your purse. I added extra length at the top of my paper purse to fold over. You could have a simple ribbon tie, or even create a separate, detachable piece for your closure.

Use your 1/4" hole punch to make holes for your handle. Ribbon, wire, waxy floss, cloth strips or paper are all good options for handles. I used ribbon, threading it into the holes and tying it off with small knots to secure it to the underside of the top flap.

Print or handwrite your party information inside for a fast, cute invitation.

Greeting Card Holder

This fun project is perfect for holding a set of greeting cards. Coordinate your paper purse with the greeting cards inside for a custom gift that is sure to please. Four to six greeting cards with coordinating envelopes fit nicely inside one of these purses.

Supplies:

• template (Stampin' Up)
• cardstock (Bazzill)
• patterned paper (Me and My Big Ideas)
• wire (Darice)
• punches (Marvy Uchida)
• self-adhesive hook and loop tape
• alphabet sticker (Doodlebug Designs)
• ¼" hole punch (Fiskars)
• trimmer with scoring blade or a bone folder
• strong adhesive
• ribbons and charms to embellish as desired.

Directions: Using the template, trace, score, and cut out the two sections for your card-holder purse. Attach the pieces together using a strong-bond adhesive. Punch a hole in each side and string your wire through the holes. Curl the ends or wrap small pieces around the main piece of the handle to secure. Cover the end sections with ribbons, charms or other items to embellish.

Decorate the front using the circle and scallop punches, or any other embellishment of your liking. Add the self-stick hook-and-loop tape to create a closure for your purse.

Create four to six cards in the same color scheme as your paper purse to finish this fun gift set.

Mini Album

This mini album is created using a template from Deja Views. This same idea can easily be made larger by using full-sized sheets of cardstock for the pages and matte board for the covers.

Supplies:

• template (Deja Views)
• cardstock (Bazzill)
• patterned paper (Die Cuts With A View)
• buttons and miscellaneous embellishments to coordinate with your theme

Directions: Trace and cut out all the pieces for your paper purse album using your template. Be careful to mark and score your folds evenly. Attach the pages to the main body of the album by stringing them on your wire or ribbon handle at the top.

This album ideally holds four to five double pages with minimal embellishments. Your paper purse will close more easily if you stick to fairly flat embellishments and limit your double and triple matting.

Create the closure for your mini album. Hook-and-loop tape is my preferred method, but you can use a ribbon, a magnetic closure, or a simple piece of hardware.

Embellish the front as you wish. My mini album was dedicated to my new niece, Addie Sue, so I put her name on the front and used a soft wired-chenille fiber for my handle. Click here to see the rest of the finished mini-album.

Now it's your turn. Take what we've shown you and modify it so that it fits your needs. Make them bigger, thicker, smaller, or even try creating a paper purse using specialty or embossed papers. Change the handles by using felt or cloth strips. Try adding a few touches of your own so that your paper purses are an expression of the artist who created them.

Create fabulous purses like these with scrapbook and craft supplies from Scrapjazz.com!