Look What I Found....

It's an old purse pattern that I used to use when making things to sell.....I decided that, since I am still in the midst of cleaning out the workroom, you needed something to occupy your time.

I also decided that it was time to do an experiment....

The purse pattern is drawn up on quarter inch graph paper, so that should give you a scale to copy the pattern.

I cut the body of the purse from an index card. Then the twist is, I covered it with mini wallpaper. I happened to have some leopard skin paper.

On the right side of the photo you can see how I clipped the paper all around. I made the folds in the body of the purse, so that the paper would still fit when it was folded.

I glued all of the little spiky edges to the inside.

I cut two pieces of the paper the height of the side of the purse+folded hem at the top and about a half inch wide. I creased the middle and then folded the sides back to make a pleated side.

I smeared glue on the outside edges of the pleats and put them in place between the front and back of each side of the body.

I clamped this and let it dry. while it was drying, I cut a long strip for the handle....This can be any length that you like. I glued the strip to another piece, back to back. Then trimmed it all around, making points at the ends.

After this step, you could decorate the edges and front of the purse any way you like. I opted for a gold clasp, cut from a jewelry finding.

I glued each end of the handle to the side pleats on the purse.

Of course, Tessie claimed it as soon as it was finished. Then she proceeded to speculate what the chances were of getting a new dress to match...

Chances aren't good. I don't think that she would be very comfortable in a paper dress.

You could use fabric instead. I just wanted to see if it would work with paper...It did. Have fun with the pattern....I would love to see what other people do with it.

See you tomorrow.