My Favourite Purse or Handbag Template

Sorry for all of the house-keeping posts you're getting lately. You may recognize this oldie; I just had to re-post it 'cuz I'm revamping the
154 purses link list
& had to make the list shorter by taking out this (so-so) tutorial. :O)

Here's my favourite purse template

My favourite purse box of all (so far)...

This Papercraft template is brilliantly easy to use. It makes these sweet little purses (roughly 3x3 inches and 2x2") with no adhesive! When you open the top, there's a little box inside:

The curved flaps on the little box open up. This photo also shows how a Circle punched out makes a good cover for the hardware inside

I've adapted the pattern, by scanning it, because it was originally very dark and used to have a lot of words on it (indicating fold lines and cutting lines. This would work fine if you wanted to trace a paper template every time, but to be able to print straight onto cardstock. Here are two adapted templates One is a lightened template sans words & the other is for dark cardstock that still has dark lines, but has no words anymore.

The light cardstock template & The dark cardstock template & The mini template


Here is the original template:

Original Handbag Box Template link

If you use the original template, (easily resizable by using scaled printing) you can make a master template to trace, or you can still print directly on your cardstock: just hide the words by using a background stamp that also has text. I used Friend by Definition on the one below. If you compare the grey cutout to the original pattern, you can see that I've also altered the handle (removing it so I could add a beaded one.) I didn't cut the section out where it says too (at the right of the pic--on the large flap ):

How it looks cut out. (The curved parts and darker lines are cut like slits) Except for where the fold lines are indicated

Here's how it looks stamped on the inside with text

This is the front. I've used a hodgepodge brad to hold the front flap. The pattern here is made with the Kind Thoughts stamp set. The texture here is embossing and under stamped. Achieved by:

Stamping & Distress Embossing (Just overheating the powder intentionally)

1. "Under" Stamp in Basic Grey (or tone on tone) with the flourish from Kind Thoughts
2. Let that dry
3. Stamp the little flower in Silver Encore ink
   
4. Stamp the large flower in Whisper White craft ink
5. Cover in clear embossing powder (I don't worry about stray granules since I like the distressed look they give, but you could use an anti-static bag before stamping if you like)
   
6. Emboss, overheating it to get a fascinating effect. The clear powder travels past the white ink and bleeds a little--giving a distressed texture. Silver becomes less shiny (Pewterish)
   

The stamped project before embossing. Distress embossing with clear embossing powder will give you a more subtle look

Here is a shot of the back tab & the area where the handle is wired in.

Supplies Used:

• Adapted template: for dark/light cardstock (light works on Basic Gray)
• For dark cardstock for light
• Your favourite Scissors
• Brads (or magnets/velcro/button for closure)
• Circle punch (or cut shapes to cover hardware on inside
• Beads & Wire (or ribbon) for the handle
• Hole punch & eyelets (for holes for beaded wire handle)

Happy Crafting Crafty People!

P.S. If you have a purse template to share, please leave a link. :0)

P.P.S. Here's a 4th mini purse template (This one is darker for dark cardstocks):