Placemats to Purse

Happy Monday!  I have a really fun project to show you today.

Placemat purse

A repurposed placemat purse.

I bought these placemats at Pier 1 last fall to repurpose into a purse, and after sitting on my craft room shelf for most of a year, they were finally transformed.  Aren't the colors great for fall?  The strap and lining fabric was a remnant of home decor fabric I got on clearance for just a few dollars, and I think it compliments all the colors in the placemats nicely.  I was going to make a tutorial, but got ahead of myself and didn't take that many pictures.

Oops.

I sewed the ends of the placemats together so the fringe would hang down from the bottom of the purse.

Cell phone pocket

One of the sides has a pocket for my cell phone.  There is elastic at the top so my phone won't slip out on its own.

I made a pocket on the front of the purse body under the flap.  This is where I keep the all the necessities (like Joann and Hobby Lobby coupons), and my home made lip balm.  Easy access, baby!

Zip pocket

The inside has a zip pocket on one side...

and segmented pockets on the other.  I made two skinny pockets for a pen and pencil, a larger middle pocket, and a pocket to put my reading glasses in.  (Not that I need them or anything.)

To give the purse shape and to keep it from looking slouchy, I put a piece of Timtex in the bottom and tacked it down in a few places.  It works great.

The only thing I wish I would have included was a ring to clip my keys to.  I'm still trying to figure out how I can add one without tearing one of the seams apart.

This turned out great for my first attempt at a purse.  I am really loving it, even though it is a little bit on the large side.  I don't carry a lot of 'stuff' in my purse, but this one is big enough to hold my camera too, and that is a plus.

It's even big enough to hold a kitty!  Hi Moonshine!

I made this up as I went along, but if you have questions about measurements or anything, just let me know.

K

Polka Dot Background

Here are two cards I got stuck on and had to leave alone for a couple days.  I stamped the polka dot backgrounds, and that's as far as I got.

Until today.

Funny how you can create when you think you are on a creative high.

Mind over matter.

At first, I tried this on a white card base and it was so not right.  The yellow was exactly what it needed.  No wonder I couldn't do anything with it before.  Once I figured the yellow out, it all came together very quickly.  I used my blender pen and reinkers to color the image - something I haven't used in years.  It seemed so much easier now, and I will definitely try it again.  I pierced the scallops on the rectangle to echo the scallops on the border.

Just as I was sitting here typing this, I looked at this card and wondered why I didn't Stickle the orange flower.  So I just Stickled it and it looks amazingly better.  Sorry, but I'm not going to retake the picture.

Supplies:
Stamps - Love Ya Bunches (long ago retired), Polka Dot background
Paper - Daffodil, Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, GKD PL white
Ink - Wasabi, Memento tuxedo black
Accessories - Blender pen, reinkers, Nestabilities, Big Shot, large needle for piercing, ribbon, Diamond lace border punch

The ribbon on this card was wrapped around a blanket or pillows I bought some time ago.  Since I save everything I think I might be able to use in a crafty way, I need to start using some of it or it is going to take over my craft cave.  The dark pink heart layer was cut out using deco scissors, and I only had to do it once!  Woohoo!

Supplies:
Stamps - Whimsical Words, Polka Dot background
Paper - Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, GKD PL white (for card base)
Ink - Wasabi, Rose Red
Accessories - heart punch, mini scallop deco scissors, dauber, rhinestone, dimensionals, repurposed ribbon

Now let's see what other projects I can finish.  I know of at least three in the wings...

Hope you have a super weekend!

K