Paper Purse A-Go-Go

"Laminating" Papers

Materials:

methylcellulose paste or Nori
Unryu paper
mulberry paper
chip brush
water
bowl
spray bottle
smooth surface (glass or plastic)

Steps:

1. Mix a small amount of paste to the consistency of cream, according to the directions on the package. If you use Nori, thin a small amount with water.

2. Lay the decorative paper face down onto the smooth surface. Spray the back of the paper liberally with water, and smooth wrinkles with hands. The paper will stretch, and wrinkling is normal.

3. Brush on the wallpaper paste from the center out to the sides until entire sheet is coated with a thin layer of paste.

4. Lay the second sheet wrong side down onto the back of the pasted paper. Brush a layer of paste from the center out to the sides as in the first sheet, smoothing out wrinkles as you go.

5. Let the paper dry completely on the smooth surface and then lift off carefully. Cut into desired shape for folding.

Creating the Purse

18-inch square piece of decorative paper
cording
button
tassel
large bead
two 1/4-inch eyelets
hole punch
glue gun and glue sticks or strong cement

Steps:

1. Start with paper facing down and pinch a center mark at the top edge.

2. Cupboard fold and then unfold using the pinch mark as a guide by bringing left and right edges to center (figure A).

3. Fold the bottom edge up to 1/2-inch from the top edge (figure B).

4. Fold the bottom corners up so that the edges meet the cupboard fold creases and crease well (figure C).

5. Fold down a 1/2-inch hem on the front layer (figure D).

6. Fold corners at the top ends of the hem to meet the upper edges of the triangular flaps (figure E).

8. Pull the upper folded edge of the front layer slightly to separate the layers, and then push inward at diagonal folds (figure G). Then lay flat.

10. On the right side, pull down the front layer only until the form of a large colored triangle with a smaller white triangle protrudes from the raw edge (figure J).

11. Insert flaps (figure K), then mountain fold lower triangle area behind itself to lock in place (figure L).

12. Fold the top point down to the bottom of the purse (figure M).

13. Fold the bottom of the purse under the horizontal flap and lock.

14. To open and close purse, just slip finger under top flap and pull up.

15. Punch two holes in the back upper corners of the purse and set eyelets.

16. Feed cording through the eyelets from front to back and tie with a slipknot.

17. Attach a button, bead and tassel to the front flap with hot glue or strong cement.