Decorative Paper Purse Weekend Project

Here is a cute little purse you can make for a quick Mother's Day gift.  Or any other occasion you can think of.  

I whipped this little baby up in no time at all.  The paper I used here is from the "Paisley Petals" pack.  I cut the 12" x 12" piece of paper to 8-1/2" x 11" and put it in my printer.  I printed the pattern right onto the decorative paper.  When you are ready to print, make sure the part of the paper you like is not the part you want printed.  For my printer I put the part I wanted on the outside to the back of the printer so the part I wanted the printing to go on was face up on the printer.  I found the pattern here.  I downloaded it and then I just hit print. I did set my printer to a draft copy.  I didn't need a high quality print for the inside of the purse.  

The base of this purse is 1-1/2" wide x 3" long and it's 2-3/8" tall and from the bottom up it tapers to about 2-3/8" long to 1" wide.  It's a very nice size.  It's not so little as I opened this post with!!!

There is SO much you can do with this pattern.  I think the next time I make one I'll print the pattern on card stock and add pieces of decorative paper.  The decorative paper is SO pretty but it's not as durable as card stock is.  I had added a piece of Velcro under the flap and you have to be very carefully when opening it or it could rip.  

I did have fun decorating it as little as I did.  The scallop was made by first punching out a circle.  Then I took one of my scallop punches and punched over that circle.  I cut the scalloped circle ring between a scallop.  Then I snipped between every scallop about 1/4".  This allowed me to open up the scallops enough to let them bend a bit for a custom fit around the flap arch.  

The punched flower is from the "Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.  I added a 3/4" circle of Certainly Celery card stock to the back and attached the two pieces with a brad.  I affixed it on the purse with a Dimensional.  I added a piece of ribbon for a handle and I was done.  I did glue my purse together instead of taping it.  I don't find tape holds as well (unless it is the Stick Strip tape).  And that was it.  A REALLY quick purse to use as a gift or keep for yourself.  I want to try the Faux Alligator technique on it.  And alligator looking purse with this pattern would be adorable!!!

This was a fun project! 
Edited 5-9-11:  I have gotten a couple of comments stating that they can't access the pattern.  Blogger does not have anything on here that will allow me to reply back to the comments or those who leave a comment.  If you have any problems opening the pattern, please email me here and I will help you get the pattern.

Thank you SO much for visiting today and Happy Mother's Day!
Wanda