Level: Medium Time: 1 hour
I LOVE this! I couldn't decide which book cover I liked best, so I made lots! I can't claim this idea, because I saw it on another blog, but I can't remember the name...Panda something, so if this was you, let me know and I'll link this post up with yours.
Anyway, if you know how to sew, this is pretty easy.
Supplies:
A hard back book (I bought mine at the thrift store for .50 each)
About 1/2 yard of fabric (I'm not sure, I just used scraps)
E600 craft glue
1. First, tear all the pages out of the book. This is painful, I know, but there are plenty of book pages crafts you can use these for!
2. Lay the book out on your fabric and measure it. I just traced it with a disappearing fabric pen. I forgot to take a picture of this. Then make sure you ADD 1/2" TO EACH SIDE for a seam allowance. I cut out 4 pieces for the book cover (2 for the front, 2 for the back), 2 for the spine, and then 2 triangle pieces for the purse sides. You measure the width of the spine, go up at a 90 angle the width of the cover, and then decide how far you want to purse to open and make the "top" of the triangle that wide. Then cut a straight line from the top to the spine (don't forget to add 1/2 inch to each side for a seam allowance.).
3. Sew the pieces together. Your actually making 2 'purses,' and then you'll sew those together at the end to make sure all seams are enclosed. I sewed the spine to the 2 triangle sides, then sewed the book cover pieces (front and back) to these...the corners can get a little tricky, but just do your best! Now you should have 2 'purses.'
4. Make the handles by sewing 2 strips of fabric, 2 1/2" wide, by as long as you want your handles to be. Fold the strip in half long ways, then fold the rough edges under 1/4 inch, and topstitch near the edge.
5. Place your 2 purses right sides together, one inside of the other. Pin the handles INSIDE the two purses and on opposite sides of the purse.
6. Add velcro or a snap to the top center of the purse to keep it closed.
7. Sew around the top, leaving a 2-3" space along one of the sides to turn the purse right side out. Trim the corners, then turn the purse. Top stitch or slip stitch the hole closed. Now you have a completed purse, and an empty book...we just have to get them together! Get out your E600 craft glue, and apply to 1 surface of the book at a time. I started with the spine. Apply glue to the edges, then fill in the middle, then press the 'purse' into the spine and allow to dry. leave overnight, or for a couple hours, then glue the book cover to the purse the same way. Allow to dry. Once dry it's pretty hard to get this glue off! Now, enjoy your purse!
I ended up making several, and picked my favorite then gave the rest to friends. I recommend starting with your least favorite, figuring out what mistakes you made, then go for it! I enjoyed making these, and plan on keeping my open for cool old books to use in the future!
I'm linking up to
THESE parties!
I'm hosting a giveaway for a great new Craft Blog called "I'm Topsy Turvy" at imtopsyturvy.blogspot.com. All you have to do is visit my website, twigglebox.com, to sign up for our newsletter and let Ashlee at I'm Topsy Turvy know what colors you'd want in the comments! We're giving away a Fairy Wing, Tutu, and Personalized Hair Barrette set! Perfect for Birthday's, Dress up, or Gifts! So follow the links to enter, and I hope you win!
Here's my new haircut for the summer! I always like to get a fresh look after I have a baby and loose a few pounds of the baby fat. I love it because it takes about 10 minutes to do! My Hubby's just glad I got rid of the "Fullet" (this is his term for a really bad hairstyle...a mullet that goes all the way around!). Don't mind the dark circles under my eyes, after all I haven't slept for 7 weeks! Don't worry, more real posts coming soon.
Here's The favor bags, put together by all the things the girls made and did...better than a bag of candy any ol' day! The purses, embellished with 4" gerber Daisy Clips, their pair of no-slip socks, emery boards, their choice of nail polish colors, and topped off with the cutest gift of Personalized Hair Barrettes for them to take home! You can find the flowers and barrettes at TwiggleBox.com, or by clicking the links above! The girls had a blast, and my birthday girl told me it was the best party ever! Which is great, since it's also the easiest party I've ever thrown! 
Of corse no slumber party is complete without nail paints! I purchased a bunch of different colors in cheap sets so I wouldn't feel bad when they all got destroyed, which they pretty much did. The point of this activity was to let the girls (7 and 8 yrs.)do their own nails, but most of them got frustrated and wanted my help. If I was to do this again I would in list help from some teenagers or moms! And don't forget the drop cloth or grubby blanket, because we had paint everywhere! Check out our other activities: purses and socks, the Sleepover Cake, and the Pillow invitations!
These 'no slip socks' were made from $1 store socks and puff paints...I don't know what happened to the cute samples I made (I suspect my husband, the garbage man!), but here are the ones made by my girls. All the little girls at our sleepover had a blast making the socks. If you do this at your 'sleepover,' or 'non-sleepover,' just make sure it's the first activity for maximum dry time!
We made these cute Purses for my daughters Party...I just bought them pre-made and let the girls glue ribbons, buttons, beads, and such on them. Then they took these home as a party favor, and they all had a blast making these! Even my 1 year old was in on the action!
Just got these new 4" Daisy flower clips in at our online store, www.twigglebox.com. Order by the dozen, or singly. They are on an alligator clips with teeth, so "in," so trendy, so cute, and so cheap at twigglebox! Our April coupon is 20% off your entire order, so this is a great time to try us out! Just enter coupon code: Spring
I wanted to share this beautiful Easter Sign my sister made for me. The letters were pre cut out, and she used decoupage to clue scrapbook paper on the face. I love how it turned out, don't you! Scroll down to see all my easter crafts and posts! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope the easter bunny brought you some fun things as well!
Here's my cute calendar for April. I'm not going to put all the directions here, just the picture of what I did! My background is grass paper, and the filler is mini cadbury eggs....I locked them in here to keep from eating them all! (actually, I've already snuck some out....naughty, naughty). For complete instructions view my post HERE.
