Craft Box Purse

Embellish a craft box purse with dragonflies, jewels and glitter.

That's Clever! : Episode HCLVR-230 -- More Projects »
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Project by Jennifer Hardaway from N. Hollywood, Calif.
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Jennifer Hardaway has always been artistic; she loves to sing and act, but never considered herself "crafty." Then came the day she was visiting her sister in a 300 person town in Texas, the only real draw of which was the antique row. As Jennifer perused the shops she found herself attracted to the variety of vintage purses, but they weren’t exactly what she liked in a bag. So with a trip to the local Wal-Mart (30 miles away) and a ton of time on her hands Jennifer made her first purse. She was hooked, and today she has branched out, making a variety of bags including her very clever craft box purse.

Materials:

craft box
craft paint: 2 colors of green, yellow, gold, purple
sanding machine and sandpaper
brass hinges
brass latch
screws
screwdriver
small paintbrush
fan-shaped paintbrush
foam brush
jewel glue
white glue
plastic jewels
crystal rhinestones
foam dragonfly stamps
dragonfly stencil
piano wire (for handle)
beads (for handle)
needle nose pliers
wire cutter
glitter
decorative paper for lining
water-based polyurethane
hand held rotary drill
scissors
mirror
adhesive-backed hook-and-loop tape
safety glasses

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Figure A
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Figure B
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Figure C
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Figure D
Steps:

1. Remove the original craft box latch and hinges with a screwdriver (figure A).

2. Wearing safety glasses, sand the entire craft box with a sander or hand sand with sandpaper.

3. Put one coat of paint on the outside of the craft box and let dry. Apply medium green paint on the lid sides, light green on the front and back and yellow on the lid and ends of the box. Paint the inside of the lid yellow. Apply the paint with a foam brush (figure B).

4. When dry, sand the craft box again.

5. Put on a second coat of paint using the above colors. Let dry.

6. Apply a coat of polyurethane. Let dry. Repeat.

7. Replace the hinges and latch with new brass ones (figure C).

8. Stencil a dragonfly on the lid of the craft box purse using green paint for the body and purple for the wings (figure D).

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Figure E
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Figure F
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Figure G
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Figure H
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Figure I
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Figure J
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Figure K
9. Stamp two dragonflies onto the front of the craft box purse using yellow and gold paint. Glue two jewels on each dragonfly for eyes (figure E).

10. Coat the craft box purse with one layer of polyurethane.

11. Attach plastic jewels and crystals to the dragonfly with jewel glue (figure F) and a flower on one end of the box (figure G).

12. Apply polyurethane to the ends of the craft box purse. Cover the jewels on the flower as well. While the polyurethane is still wet, sprinkle on glitter using a fan-shaped brush.

13. Drill two holes in the lid of the box for the purse handle (figure H).

14. Cut a piece of piano wire the desired length of the handle plus enough to secure on the inside of the box.

15. String the piano wire through one of the drilled holes. Place a bead on the end of the wire on the inside of the lid of the box and twist the wire around the bead to secure using needle nose pliers.

16. String beads onto the wire handle (figure I).

17. String the opposite end of the wire through the other drilled hole and secure with another bead on the under side of the box lid using pliers.

18. Line the inside of the craft box purse by gluing paper along the sides (figure J).

19. Attach adhesive-backed hook-and-loop tape to a mirror and stick it on the inside of the craft box purse lid (figure K).

Enjoy your dragonfly craft box purse!

Website: www.klutchez.com