Pam's Vinyl Tote

Learn how to fashion this fun and colorful vinyl tote to use for your next trip to the beach.

All About

Product Ideas

Obviously this was one of Pam Toache's creations. Though it is pretty enough to be used as a purse and carried most anyplace because it is see-through, you might want to use as a very handsome beach bag for towels and sunscreen and even wet suits. The one requirement is that you will most likely have to purchase your mats in the summertime because that is when the stores have these placemats in stock. Our tote was made using clear vinyl mats with brightly colored flowers. Any vinyl mat could be used.

Materials and Tools:

2 clear vinyl placemats (17-1/4" long)
2-1/2" x 14-1/4" * piece 1/2" thick wood shelving
light green acrylic paint
4 large 1/4" grommets
24 upholstery nails
Stretch Magic 1.8 mm bead & jewelry cord
1 yd. of 1/4" cording for handles
1/8" hole punch
1/4" hole punch
clear glue
ruler or tape measure
pen or pencil
scissors

Figure A

*The length of this bottom piece is determined by the length of the placemats. Measure the length of the mat. Allow 1/4" for a seam on each side, which totals 1/2" Subtract that from the length of the mat. Then subtract the width of the board. The answer is what the length the board should be. Our mats were 17-1/4". Subtracting 1/2" for the seams left 16-3/4". Subtracting another 2-1/2" for the width of the board left 14-1/4" for the length.

Figure B

Steps:

1. Measure and mark the edge of the sheet of paper with dots 1/2" apart and 1/4" in from the side edge, or use a piece of computer paper with holes already punched as your guide. Place the paper under one of the mats and mark dots where each hole should be made. Be certain to line up the paper perfectly along the side edge of the mat and the bottom edge. Repeat on the opposite side edge.

Figure C

2. On one of the mats, punch the holes where marked. Place the punched place mat on top of the other one and punch matching holes.

3. Punch two 1/4" holes along the top edge for the handles. Ours were in the center third of the mat. Repeat matching holes in the second mat. These holes are larger because grommets will be placed in them.

Figure D

4. Cut a length of the plastic cording about 2-1/2 times the height of the mat and starting at one of the corners sew the two mats together using an over hand stitch. At the first stitch make a knot, leaving a tail to be woven through the first few holes, or secure the knot with clear glue. Cut any extending tail. Repeat at the top edge.

5. Repeat the sewing on the opposite side of the mats.

Figure F

6. Attach the grommets to the holes along the top edge.

7. Cut the handle cording in half, knot one end of one length and pull it through the grommet from the inside of the purse to the outside. Insert the opposite end in the grommet next to it, this time inserting the cord from the outside to the inside. Knot on the inside. Cut any extending cording and coat with a layer of Fray-Chec or clear-drying glue to prevent further fraying.

8. Paint the board and allow to dry.

Figure G

9. Mark the center of the mat along the bottom edge. Mark the center of the length of the board. On both the board and the mat, make a second mark 1-1/2" away from the center mark on each side of it. Repeat these marks on the opposite side of the board and on the other mat.

Figure H

10. Insert the board and push the first tack through the middle marks on both the mat and the board. Repeat with the other two marks. You now have three tacks in along one side of the tote to get you started. Repeat on the other side of the tote.

11. Insert remaining tacks up both sides of the tote, placing them all equal distances apart. When you get to the ends and have to go around the corner, place the tacks as close as possible to the center seam on the mats. Gather in any surplus material.