5- Introducing Garden of Life

Alli Miles has designed one of THE most amazing flower sets I have ever had the opportunity to work with and I am SO excited to be able to carry it within out Papertrey line! 

One of my favorite images from the set is Alli's version of a chrysanthemum (referred to as "mum" for the remainder of this post!).  I love, LOVE, love the detail.  It could take on several different styles depending on how you used it, whether it be trendy, classic or vintage.  It can be left alone as an outline image or colored in to add detail.  The choice is yours!  I have a really fun project to share with you today, but be sure to stop by Alli's blog as well because she has even more to share with you! 

Today's project integrates two of my favorite hobbies.  You already know that I love to stamp.  But the second pass time is not something I have ever really talked about on here very much and that is sewing.  I love to make Hannah dresses among dozens of other things.  My mother did a lot of sewing when I was growing up and I also enjoyed honing my skills while particpating in 4H.  Paula, an older woman in our small town, allowed girls to come to her home once a week for sewing lessons.  Oh, I just LOVED it!  One of the things that she taught me to make was a very simple, no pattern purse.  I have made it dozens and dozens of times, mostly for gifts. 

With sewing becoming so popular in paper crafting, I thought I would challenge you to take your stitching knowledge a step further and integrate fabric.  Sewing on fabric uses basically the same technique as paper, and if you can sew in a basic straight line, YOU can make this purse!  Really!  Form start to finish it will only take about an hour!  (This post will seem a little lengthy, but I just wanted to make sure I was thorough in my instructions!)

Don't forget, you can click on any of the photos for a larger image!

WHAT YOU NEED

sewing machine & thread (even the Janome Sew-Mini will work!)

iron & ironing board

pins

1 yard fabric

ribbon

 

THE FABRIC

To make the basic purse, you or course need fabric.  I picked up basic muslin for just under a dollar a yard.  When doing any sewing project you want to wash & dry the fabric, then press it smooth with a steam iron.  By doing this simple step first, you will be able to throw your completed purse in the washing machine in the future with no worries!  Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 12.5 x 18 inches.   Set aside  one for later and lay out the other one in front of you, nice and flat.  I got out one of Papertrey's new April colors, Summer Sunrise, and  stamped  the mum repeatedly all over the fabric.

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I then stamped the mum again, only using  the other April color, Lemon Tart.  (More details about both the new colors tomorrow!)  One of the benefits of our Palette Hybrid Ink Pads, is that they are permanent on fabric and their vibrancy on that type of medium is just amazing!

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To fill in some of the empty spaces, I followed up with a small leaf image using Landscape Palette ink.  I stamped some of them in pairs and some singular.  Just mix it up and have fun!

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My fabric was now complete!  With the fabric only being 12.5 x 18, it's not much bigger than 12x12 cardstock, so it's like creating a One Sheet Wonder, just in a more permanent form!

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CREATING THE PURSE

1. To begin creating the purse, you want to fold the rectangle in half, right sides together.

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2. Next, you want to sew a simple straight seam up each side of the rectangle, forming a big "pocket"!

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3. With your iron, press the side seams you just created "open".  This will help your finished seams to be nice and crisp (similar to scoring cardstock!).   

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You want to create a pointed corner of your purse when you press the seam.  After pressing both side seams, the pocket you created in step 2 would look more like this from the side.

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4. Next, you want to stitch across the corner you just pressed.  You want to do this about 2 inches from the point.  Again, a very easy straight stitch! 

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After performing step 4 to both corners, the bottom of your purse is beginning to take shape.  It will look like this.

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5. Press your corner seams inward, so that both corners are pointing towards each other.

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6. You want to repeat steps 1-5 with the second rectangle you set aside earlier, creating the lining for your purse.  The only thing you will do differently is to leave an opening towards the middle of one of the side seams.  The opening will be necessary later on in the process.

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You will end up with two inside out purses, one outer & one lining.

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ASSEMBLING THE PURSE

7. Cut two pieces of Summer Sunrise Grosgrain Ribbon 15 inches long.

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8. Beginning with the plain muslin lining, turn it right side out and press all the seams.  Pin the ribbon in place for handles.  Be sure that at least 1 inch of ribbon extends above the top edge of the purse.  You will pin one handle on each side.

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9. Insert the lining into the outer purse (the outer purse still being inside out). I have rolled back the edge of the purse just slightly to demonstrate which sides should be together.  When inserting it, be sure that the side seams line up!

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10. Stitch a simple straight seam around the top of the purse.  You want to start at a side seam and go all the way around, ending where you started.  You will be stitching all three layers together.  The outer purse, the handles & the lining.

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11. Next, you want to pull the lining out from the outer purse and find the opening you left in it's side seam.

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12. Simply pull the purse back out through this opening, which will turn it right side out.  You will notice that the lining & outer purse are all now one big piece!

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13. Fold the lining down into the outer purse and press all of your seams so they are nice and crisp.  Do a few little whipstiches by hand with a needle & thread to close up the opening in the lining's side seam.

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14. As one final finishing touch, I like to add a topstitch around the top edge of the purse.  It makes it look more finished and it helps to maintain a crisp edge.

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THE ENSEMBLE

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Of course I had to make a little matching card!  I cut the mum out and raised it on a foam dimensional within a simple square focal point.  I think it looks really classy to have both items match perfectly!

CARD SUPPLES:

STAMPS- Polka Dot Basics & Garden of Life from Papertrey Ink

INK- Summer Sunrise, Lemon tart & Landscape Palette inks

PAPER- Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart & Stamper's Select White

OTHER- Summer Sunrise Grosgrain Ribbon

A CONTEST

Sooooooo, this little purse is PERFECT for spring and one of YOU will win it!  Just comment on this post before noon EST, Monday, April 14th.  All you need to do is tell me all about your favorite purse and you will have a chance to win!  Good luck!

CHECK OUT WHAT TAYLOR DID!

Taylor has a little sneak peek of Papertrey's April release as well!  Stop by and visit her today to see what she's been up to!

Comments

[ElizabethB]

Not only am i going to have to sew this purse a.s.a.p. but I am totally, 100% in LOVE with the new colors (and the names). AWESOME!!

[teresa chapman]

Awesome project. Thanks for the chance :)

Teresa

[Sara]

AWESOME job with the new colors, love them! I have seen my Friends Mother make purses out of placemats, they are wonderful! I also love this (idea, very clever).

[Debbie]

oooooohhhhhh... nice. I love any purses with pockets for organization

[Gacker]

I LOOOOVE this!! My wish list for next order is already so long but I want the new Mum set and all the new colors! Nichole - you make it look so simple to make this purse that I'll have to try it myself! Thanks!

[Lee]

My favorite purse right now is a fairly small plain leather bag that I got at Maryland Sheep and Wool last year. It has a nice long shoulder strap, and the leather is as soft as butter.

[Kelly Gipson]

My favorite purse has lots of pockets and places to stash goodies. It has a built-in cell phone holder, a key chain that hooks to the inside of the purse, and several inner pockets that zip. I just love purses! Yours is fantastic. I think I will have to try to make one.

[Christine]

This is a great purse. I love the mums and the colors are great. A wonderful accessory for summer! I'm definitely going to make this one. A good purse, in my opinion, has good organization but roomy enough to carry not only my things but the kids as well.

[kim3timemom]

Oh I love the purse and I LOVE the mum stamp! Beautiful. My favorite purse is a purse I made a few years ago...I stopped using it recently because I just had too much stuff in it..it is a smaller purse. I just got a pattern for a new patchwork purse..so cute. I can't wait to start it..and this one I'll put pockets on the inside so that I can be more organized. Thanks so much for the chance to win.

[laurlynn]

My favorite purse was a simple black one with zipper closure and two medium length straps. It was from Target for $7.99 and it lasted forever! Love your purse.

[Isabel]

This looks like so much fun to make. I will have to try it with my little one. My favorite purse right now is an aqua and brown one that is made out of some funky fabric. The best part is that is has four pockets to keep me organized. Or least that is the plan:) I can't wait to see all of the new goodies this month. Counting the days:)

[Diane S.]

What a gorgeous purse. I never thought of stamping on one. You are so clever. Like my favorite purse, this one is big enough to carry all the necessities without being bulky.

[Alexa]

My favorite purse is one I worked very hard to purchase with my own money when I was 17 or 18 years old. I babysat and saved my pennies to buy. Even though it is almost 20 years later, I still love that purse! Beautiful stamp set. Can't wait to purchase it! Alexa

[Terri Trotter Earley]

That cute purse just screams spring.

It's a good life!
Terri E.

[Lisa Rogers]

What a super cute purse! I love the colors - very summery. I too love to make purses, but it's been forever and a day since I've made one (more like 2 years), I think it's time to get back at it.

[Ann Lind]

I love the new colors and what a cute but simple purse. The new mum stamp is a must have. I can't wait to be able to order the new colors and choose some of the new stamps. I have made a several bags and have some cotton on hand and I can't wait to try one of these. TFS Ann

[Becky]

I just bought a great new purse at Eddie Bauer for 1/2 off! Love a sale! It is big enough for me to stash all of my personal stuff... plus, a diaper, some wipes, lots of kid snacks and a few emergency suckers for the times when Mommy has to look at EVERYTHING in the craft stores.

[Mindy]

My favorite purse? I really like the one I have had for a few years that I bought at Kohl's. The leather has held up great and it is just the right size.

[Paula Laird]

That mum is gorgeous! And I am sooo gonna make a purse soon! My favorite purse is a vintage cherry red patent leather purse. It makes everything look good!

[Michelle Nadraszky]

Oh my gosh, this is wonderful. I don't have a favorite purse I am actually looking for a new one!!!

[ScrapNStampinMama]

My Favorite Purse right now is my Dooney & Bourke Barrel Bag. Withe 3 kids its the perfect size to hold all my essentials PLUS Kid back up(a Snack,etc)LoL and It even has popsicles on it for the SUMMERY look!!!

I am LOVING these new colors!!! Nichole yoru doing an AMAZING job picking colors!! Ca'nt wait to see what teh PP looks like!!!

~Monica~

[jewels]

My wonderful husband HATES shopping for me, espicially if it is for girly things. One year at christmas time he really hit the mark...he bought me a pewter color Guess purse that was a medium size bag looked like gator pattern on it and was adorned with lots of rhinestones....name brand and full of sparklies!!! I was in love!!

[LorrieJane]

A lot of women have a shoe obsession. I have a thing for purses. I have made this same basic design before. I think I'll try it again using some stamping this time. Great idea.

[Robbin Clements]

I love the new colors...they defintely look like spring!! I am going to have to make the purse...it is sooooo cute! My favorite purse is a black purse with lots of pockets and a hook for my keys!

[Molly B]

The new colors are delish! My favorite purse is black leather, with silver rings that attach the nice long leather handles. It is the perfect size and worn in just right. I'm so excited for the next few days, can't wait to see all the new stuff. -Molly B