If you’re anything like me you probably have some of these chipboard purses stuffed on a shelf using up valuable space in your craft room. It’s time to dig those space hogging things out of storage, dust them puppies off and git ‘em gussied up for someone you love, or of course for yourself! 
I have to admit, these purses and tote-a-long boxes ( you can’t call a boy’s purse A PURSE, ya know.) are things I designed over a year ago for a six year old’s birthday party with 16 children attending the party. The kids were from age three to 12 - both girls & boys so it was important for me to come up with something hands-on and fun for all ages that the boys would like making as much as the girls. I hemmed and I hawwed and I went about bonkers trying to think of the ”just right” craft for so many children and so many different ages/abilities. Anyway, my youngest son has always had a fascination with small boxes, lunch boxes/buckets, etc. One day my son came marching down the steps carrying one of these unfinished boxes. He was on a mission to make it his official “Pokemon” box. The aha moment struck and I suddenly had the gimmes because I coerced the purse out of his hands while telling him I could make that tote-a-long box super special by decorating it for him. At the time, everything was monkey business with him so that”s what he picked for the theme for the ”purse.” Do you recognize the Cricut cut? Yeppers, it’s from Animal Kingdom! Of course, after the monkey “purse” I had to make something more girlie and that’s how the strawberry patch purse was born. The party was a HUGE hit. Every child made a purse – each unique to his/her own interests and every purse turned out to be absolutely adorable.
I offer craft parties and classes as a side gig for children ages 1-109 and this purse and tote-a-long party has become an all time favorite that I still offer. It’s quite funny because the boys spend more time matching colors and patterns for paper and picking out their “theme” than the girls. The “purses” make perfect holders for the Nintendo DS, collector cards, Hot Wheels, small toys to carry to appointments, great for storing crayons and scraps of paper for car rides, or even snacks, hair pretties, little dollies and their accessories, etc.
Tips for decorating chipboard purses:
* Remove the ugly plastic strap by unfastening from the inside. Replace the straps with some groovy ribbon, twine, chain, etc.
* Paint the edges of all sides and inside of purse to coordinate with paper patterns and colors you plan to use.
* Instead of paint, try using the Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the coloring – spread the color even more by misting with a light coat of water or with a sponge brush dipped in water.
* Trace an outline of each panel onto the paper you will be using to decorate with.
* When cutting the paper for covering the purse, cut it approximately 1/8″ to 1/4″ smaller so there is a small border of chipboard showing around the purse.
*Apply the paper to the chipboard purse by using your favorite decoupage glue. Spread an even coat on each side – work one side at a time.
*Ink the edges of the purse and paper.
*Decorate with embellies and then add an additional top coat of decoupage glue. I used Mod Podge Brush Stroke for both of these which I just love!
(Strawberry Patch Purse- front)
(Strawberry Patch Purse – back)
(Monkey Business – front)
(Monkey Business-Side ..don’t you just love the distressed look I was able to get
just from using Tim Holtz Distress Inks?)
(Monkey Business- back of tote-a-long)
This is a GREAT activity to use for a summer time boredom buster with your kids, for b-day gifts for friends, or any other holiday. The purses make great gift boxes to wrap a small gift in.
I hope you enjoyed this and would love to see what you come up with if you make one yourself so please share!
Olive crafty ideas, don’t you?
xKim
