Using little more than cardboard and adhesive-backed paper, Carol constructs a convenient purse that can double as a paper-holding file folder. To create her unique version, Carol followed the basic directions in Faith Shannon's book of Paper Pleasures, and made a few adjustments, as detailed below.
Materials:
cardboard
poster board
pattern for purse
Post-it Glue Stick
hot glue
craft knife for scoring
Con-Tact Paper*
Velcro
* Wallpaper or paper and spray adhesive may be substituted.
Steps:
Practice: Follow the directions below to make a construction paper model of the finished project. This will be especially helpful in determining the dimensions.
- Decide upon desired size (height, width and depth) of the purse.
- On the cardboard, create the purse pattern as follows: Draw a rectangle or square for the FRONT.
- Optional: Above front box, draw an adjacent box to represent the TOP.
- Below the front rectangle, draw another adjacent box, the same size as the top or size as desired if there is no top, to represent the BOTTOM.
- Below and adjacent to the bottom, draw another box to represent the BACK. This should be identical in size to the front.
- Adjacent to the rectangle that represents the bottom, draw the SIDE boxes, making sure that the sides are the same height as the front. The widths of the sides should be the same width as the bottom. Above and below each side, add an extra measurement to create the flaps that will be used to attach the sides to the front and back of the purse.
- Score all lines and fold away from the score. To hold the pieces in place while you are working, Carol recommends using Post-It glue because it holds the design together temporarily to allow for adjustments, and then makes it easy to disassemble.
- To make the purse expandable and collapsible, you will create scored triangles at the base of the sides. Before doing so, place a dot where you want the tip of the triangle to be on the sides. Score diagonally down to the corner of the paper. Test the fold.
- Unfold the cardboard purse and cover with desired wallpaper or Con-Tact paper, or use spray adhesive to attach other type of decorative paper.
- Re-fold and glue the purse together with hot glue, making use of the side flaps to hold the front, back and bottom together.
- Optional: If you have created a top for the purse, attach a piece of Velcro (loops) on the top flap and one (hooks) on the body of the purse. This will allow the purse to be securely closed.
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