Introduction: Vintage Book Repurposed Purse!
This is also on my blog. I'll post a link at the end of this 'ible if you'd like to check it out;)
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies!
What you will need.
- ·A vintage book
- ·Coordinating fabric
- ·2 purse handles or ribbon to use as handles
- ·A yard of ribbon to match your book and fabric and a button (to use as a closure for your purse)
- ·An empty cereal box or piece of cardboard (to adhere your fabric lining to)
- ·Clear finger nail polish (to stop fabric from fraying)
- ·Glue (both spray glue and crafting glue)
- ·Needle and thread (or sewing machine)
- ·Scissors
- ·Pins (to keep fabric together during the sewing process)
- ·Pin Cushion
Step 2: Find a Vintage Book That Needs New Life!
I'm using a small book that won't fit much but will look cute with a little black dress. My phone and drivers license will fit along with some spending cash but not much else. I love the vibrant pink color of this book. Also the black and white graphic art is a huge plus!
Step 3: Removing the Pages...
Step 4: Making the Side Templates.
Step 5: Making the Inside Panels.
Step 6: Gluing Fabric to the Cardboard.
Step 7: Sewing the Sides..
Step 8: Sew a Straight Line..
Once that's done it's time to do that again! One more time for the other side. This gets easier the more you make.
Step 9: Finger Nail Polish!
Step 10: Ribbon Ribbon Everywhere!
Cut 4 pieces of ribbon. Mine are about 4-6 inches long. Lace them through your handles and glue them to your book matching up the sides so the handles will line up. (Hint: I made a ruler mark on the white page of the book where I'd like my handles to be. This lined up perfectly. The ruler mark will be covered with the fabric panels made earlier.)
Fold your ribbon for the closure. This will look like an Awareness Ribbon if done right. Glue this into your book between the two ribbons that are glued for the handles. Next thread a piece of ribbon for your button closure. Glue into place opposite your Awareness Ribbon so that when your book is closed you can feed the button through the Awareness Ribbon to form a clasp of sorts.
Follow the picture guide to fully understand these steps.
Step 11: Gluing..
As seen in photo 1 you will need to glue the sides down to one side of the book. (Hint: I ironed the sides in half. Make sure you have the sides halved with the sewn middle line on the inside. The whole purpose behind cutting the template in half for the sides and then sewing the two half triangles together was to make a crease that would allow for a cleaner close.) I've added close ups of these steps below.
Next add glue to the entire inside panel you just glued your sides on. I dabbed my glue all over paying special attention to the edges.
Then add the first half of your inside panel. Don't do the spine yet.
Let this dry for a few minutes before gluing the other side. (Hint: Place several books on top of the glued sides for a few minutes to make for a stronger hold.)
This next part can be a little tricky. If you have some paper clamps you may want to grab them now and use them unless you've a third hand...
Dab glue on the entire half of book you have remaining. You will want to put a line of glue down both sides where your side fabric will be and down your book spine as well.
Then very carefully place the side fabric triangles to the line of glue on the other side and tuck in the bottom of the triangle fabric on the spine. Add the inside panel and clamp with paper clamps.
(Pictures show detailed instructions. Please refer to them if you are confused or just ask and I'll try to walk you through.)
Step 12: Books on Books.
This will ensure that the glue hardens tight to the book and you do not damage the spine of the book. If you just place heavy books on top of your book purse empty then it will surly damage the spine and potentially ruin your entire book purse. That would be very sad.
That's it! You're done! You have a brand new vintage book purse to enjoy and show off to all! This is also a wonderful holiday or birthday gift!
Happy Holidays!
(Here's the link to my blog and also my eBay link.)