How to Make a Cardboard Handbag
- 1). Lay your cardboard sheet across a flat, clean surface. Use a yardstick to trace a 24-by-10-inch rectangular shape on the cardboard. Carefully run your utility knife over the tracing, pressing firmly to make clean, straight and even cuts all around. Press the cut out gently along the cuts to remove it from the cardboard sheet.
- 2). Make four inward-facing folds throughout the length of the rectangle. Starting from a long end of your cut-out, trace a vertical line every five inches from top to bottom. You should finish with three lines that are 5 inches apart with 4 inches left beyond the last line. Make an inward fold at each line and loosely tape the end of the 4-inch flap over to create a box. Reinforce the folds by running a rolling pin firmly over each crease.
- 3). Stand your "box" on its side and measure the dimensions of the square "holes" which should be 5 inches on each side. Remove the tape. From the remaining cardboard, cut out two squares; both 5 1/2 inches at each side. Along the top of each square, trim off 1/2 inch and fold the other three sides inward by 1/2 inch. Reinforce the folds with the rolling pin.
- 4). Measure your covering materials. Lay your fabric or contact paper smooth across a flat surface. Cut out a large rectangular shape measuring 26-by-12 inches. From a separate piece of fabric or contact paper, cut two 6-by-6-inch squares.
- 5). Unfold all three pieces of cardboard and apply your covering. If you're using contact paper, remove the backing and lay the sheet sticky-side up. Place the cardboard over the center of the paper with what will be the inside of the handbag facing up. You should have an inch of paper overlapping all around. Fold the paper over to adhere and to enclose the rough edges. For fabric, use a glue gun to secure.
- 6). Reinforce the folds again and attach the sides of the handbag. Tape the top flap closed to bring the larger cardboard piece back to a box-shape. Slip the covered cardboard squares into each side of the box with the folds facing inward and the covered side facing outward. The three folds should rest against the sides and bottom of the box. Ensure that each side rests flush against the outer edges of the box. Secure the seams with hot glue.
- 7). Attach a snap to open and close your handbag. Underneath the closing flap of the purse, use hot glue to attach the prong end of a decorative snap. On the outside of the front of the purse, glue the socket end of the snap. Before gluing, ensure that both ends of the snap are centered and line up perfectly to meet one another when the handbag is closed.
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