If you find yourself with a dead Dance Pad like I did, you can make it into a purse. And you get to check out the guts which are pretty cool.

Step 1: Collect All the Stuff You'll Need

Go to a fabric store and pick out a cool style for your purse. Since the dance pad vinyl is pretty thick and inflexible, and you will have to turn the purse inside out to finish it, keep that in mind. Look for patterns made for stiff fabric / leather.

The pattern won't tell you this, but get some sheet foam, like an automotive headliner from the fabric store and use it as interfacing. It helps the dance pad vinyl look less wrinkly.

You'll need sharp scissors and a sewing machine. Depending on the style you choose you might need some zippers or similar fastener hardware.

Step 2: Cut Up the Dance Pad

Cut off the binding along the edge to separate the layers. Save the top vinyl layer and do something interesting with the rest of it. You can see what the insides look like here on my blog: Liz Revision DDR Purse.

Step 3: Smooth Out the Wrinkles

If you have a heat gun, use it to flatten out the wrinkles. A hair dryer will probably work too. Either way just be careful so you don't melt it.

Step 4: Cut Out the Front and Back Panels of Your Purse

I thought it would be cool to have "Cool!" on the front so this is how I chose to cut out the pieces.

Step 5: Cut Out the Lining

If your pattern involves pockets cut them out now too.

Step 6: Cut Out the Foam Interfacing

It should be the same as the dance pad pattern you cut out.

Step 7: Sew the Foam to the Dance Pad and Sew the Lining and Pockets

I didn't read far enough ahead, but you're supposed to sew the lining together separately. And if you have pockets involved you sew them to the lining before you sew the lining into the purse.

Here I'm just sewing the foam and the lining and the dance pad all together.

Step 8: Sew the Straps

Depending on your pattern you may have straps or a strap.

Step 9: Attach the Straps

Step 10: Attach the Zipper

Step 11: Attach the Lining and Sew the Edges of the Back Together

I forgot to take a picture of the sewn bottom corners, but I think you can imagine what it would look like since it's an inside-out version of the next step....

Step 12: You're Done!

Turn it inside-out, and you're done!

I also make tech jewelry as Zelle, electronic music as Quantazelle, and a bunch of other stuff. Here's my blog: Liz Revision.