How to make a purse/clutch from a Book

A purse or clutch for the librarian in you! 

(Disclaimer: as with a lot of stuff floating around on the interwebs, this idea isn't wholly mine.  I saw this ages ago somewhere and just came up with my own method of doing it)

If you make one of these, please please send me a picture!  I would love to see what people come up with.

More tutorials and other crap I make & do at hungrypanda.net

Step 1: Prep Your Book

1.  Find a book with a cover you like.

Comments

[grow_power]

2 reasons: 1. I found I was able to do more complete coverage of the book with a flat piece than with the lining that was sewn. 2. The flat piece also laid down flatter for me than the lining.

[scifiguy451]

Why glue the piece from step 4 on if you are just going to (SPOILER ALERT) glue the lining over the top of it in step 16? Does it have to do with how the edges would look?

[vpurcell]

OMG I LOVE This idea!!!! Thank you for such a great instructional post!

[SecondTime]

When she was too little to know what she was doing my daughter ripped up an antique book. I kept the pieces in case I ever found a good use to put them to.

Thanks to your instructable I have, after over a decade, now found one.

I'm gonna do another book-bag first, from an old poetry book, for practice. When I'm sure I can do a neat job I'll upcycle the cover of the torn antique into a new bag for her. I intend for the torn old book to have a silver lining, both literally and metaphorically!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[grow_power]

That is the sweetest story! I am glad I was able to help a little in it. I have a 2 year old myself, so I know all about things being ripped apart :)

[clummus1]

Fun project, but I have to ask,...how long does it take before that glue doesn't smell any longer. Even though it is in a well ventilated area it still smells to high heaven. I want to be able to give it as a gift but not smelling like that. Does it ever go away?

[grow_power]

Hi Clummus: It definitely does go away, as my purses don't have the smell anymore. However, I never kept track of how long it took. I bet if you left them out in the sun a little bit, it would help. The intertubes say mostly in a couple of days. Would love love to see pics of your finished product!

[clummus1]

Thanks for the reply. I live in the Pacific NW so we do not get to much sun this time of year....however today is a sunny day so I will be gluing and sunning my project today in hopes that I do not gas myself out of my apt. I will upload a pic when done. Thanks again.

[jmamowatanabe]

Brilliant.....I am loving it! Thank you!

[Robynowitz]

I'm in the process of making one right now. The glue takes so freaking long to dry and my sewing machine is 500km away so it's my only hope. I bought a couple of floral hard-cover address books from the dollar store for this- they're the perfect size to hold my iPhone and lip gloss...not sure if my keys will fit, too.

Instead of Velcro, I'm using magnets. I think they'll keep it closed well enough.

[loopytk]

Look out bookcase, I'm coming in .............

[skunknumerouno]

I just saw one of these on Fashion Police and this is apparently a very hot item this season. I will be making one for my girlfriend for Christmas, thank you so much for the instructions!

[sadiecoons]

That is soooo CUTE!!! I am a total book worm and fashion freak, so this is perfect!!!!

[Strombergundy]

How does it feel when it is finished? I would worry that the side that opens would be significantly smaller than the binding side which I think would bug me.

Is there a way to keep it in more of a book shape do you think?

I'm thinking about maybe combining your book purse with the book safe: www.instructables.com/id/Better-Book-Safe/
I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the great instructable! I can't wait to see what I make... :)

[grow_power]

How big the side that opens is dependent on how big your triangle is (the triangle that you add to the side of the fabric), basically that controls how wide your purse opens. 

I've also made some with purse frames instead of just fabric, I image you can use similar solid things to make it more book shape.  A quick hack would be instead of the innards made out of fabric, make the innards from a thin wood box ?

I would love to see what you come up with. 

[amandarox]

 score! Finally found the perfect gift idea for my friend!

[glorious_goddess]

OMG THIS IS 2K4W!!!!!!!!!!!!(2 kool 4 wordz!)

[GeekyGirl1103]

I've been looking for fun crafts involving a book, other than cutting a hole in the pages to hide stuff, and this is perfect! I'm definitely going to have to look for cool-looking books at garage sales come this summer for this. Thanks so much!

[bettbee]

Am now on lookout for appropriate old damaged books!

Prettypretty tree!

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

 I'm Thinking of doing this one for my MBP :)

[BakaNeko]

This is such a great idea!! And nicely done!
Had to laugh at your picture in step 3 ;) Verry purrtty!

Thanks for sharing (I'm so making one of these one day)! ^___^