How to Make a Purse From Greeting Cards
- 1). Separate greeting cards by size. If you have larger cards, such as 6-by-8 inches, use this size for the purse flap and the front, back and bottom panels. Use smaller-sized cards for side panels, handles or straps.
- 2). Draw the desired purse shape on tracing paper with a felt pen and clear ruler, following the dimension examples in Step 1. A general pattern to follow consists of one front and one back panel, two side panels, one bottom panel, one purse flap and a handle.
- 3). Draw notches on the patterns to align the side panels to the front and back panels. If your purse design has a flap that overlaps from the back to the front, mark notches on the back panel for placement. Notches refer to markings used to align pattern pieces prior to assembly and construction.
- 4). Position the cards for the front and back panel on your cutting board. If you are positioning a particular pattern as the focal point for the purse -- such as a floral print or stripe -- place the cards so that the pattern or picture appears in the correct spot.
- 5). Cut out the tracing paper patterns with scissors and position the pieces over the selected greeting cards. Most tracing papers are lightweight, allowing you to see through the sheet and view the card's position and picture placement.
- 6). Trace the patterns directly on the greeting cards with a soft-lead pencil and ruler.
- 7). Add an extra 1/2-inch border around the patterns. These borders are folded in a later step to adhere the purse pieces together.
- 8). Cut out the greeting card purse patterns. You can use regular scissors or those with decorative blades for an ornamental finish around the purse. If you are working with heavy card-stock greeting cards, cut out the patterns with a craft knife on a cutting board.
- 9). Fold the 1/2-inch pattern borders made in Step 7 and crease.
- 10
Spread a light coating of white craft glue with a craft sponge stick along the creased borders of the bottom, front and back panels and position the cards to create the purse's body. Let the glue dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before adhering the remaining pieces. - 11
Repeat Step 10 by spreading glue along the side panel borders. Position the side panel's creased borders along the front, back and bottom panel borders. Let dry. - 12
Repeat Step 11 by spreading the glue along the purse flap's creased border. Align the border using the notches made in Step 3 as the placement guide. Let dry. Repeat this step by spreading the glue along the ends of the strap or handle. You can also punch a hole into the side panels and insert a decorative ribbon as an alternative handle to complete the greeting card purse.
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