Place-Mat Purse Ideas

Place mats are a widely varied and often inexpensive material to use for making all kinds of crafts. If you enjoy the creative aspect of fashion, constructing handbags using place mats is a fun and easy way to indulge while making something that is useful and beautiful. There are many possibilities for using place mats to create one-of-a-kind purses.

Clutch

The classic clutch is a simple, straightforward place-mat purse. To make a clutch you will need 1 place mat. Fold twice, leaving 3 inches at the top to use as a flap. Sew along the outside edges or use fabric glue to close the sides.

For the flap, there are a variety of ways you can keep the purse closed--a frog closure, snaps or buttons. You can also further personalize it using patches, buttons or even fabric paint.

Tote

To create a tote bag you will need at least 2 place mats. Join the place mats on three sides either by using fabric glue or by sewing. You can get creative for the straps as well using 2-inch ribbon, rope, web belts or recycling the straps from another bag. You can also use another place mat (cut in three equal-size strips) to add depth to the tote. Embellish your tote bag however you choose.

Eyeglass Case

Use one place mat to make 4 eyeglass cases. This makes a handy idea for holiday gifts. Cut a place mat into 4 equal parts. Fold one of those pieces of place mat in half to make a rectangle about 6 by 2 inches. Be sure the side you want as the outside is on the inside before you sew. Since place mats have a finished edge, use this edge for the top and use the two unfinished sides of the piece of place mat to sew the eyeglass case closed. Attach Velcro to either side of the opening at the top to keep the eyeglasses from falling out of the case.

Coupon Organizer

The concept for the coupon organizer is similar to the clutch, but it will be half the size and have dividers. First cut the place mat in half so that you have two pieces about 6 inches wide by 1 foot long. Finish the raw edge of one piece however you wish, or sew a decorative saddle stitch all around its four sides. Cut the remaining half of the place mat into thirds, so you end up with 3 2-by-6-inch pieces. These pieces will be the dividers.

Two of the dividers will already have a finished edge along one length, but you will need to finish an edge for the last divider. Then, fold the first piece into thirds and sandwich the 3 dividers (finished edges at the top) between the two sides that will form the pouch. Using a sewing machine with a heavy duty needle, sew along the 2-inch sides to join the sides and keep the dividers from moving. To keep the coupon organizer closed, attach a 1-foot-long ribbon right in the center of the flap. You will use this to wrap around the organizer and close with a bow.

Other Ideas

In addition to purses, place mats can be used for creating wallets, organizers, book covers and even lampshades (see Resources). The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Resources

• How to Give an Old Lamp New Life Using Placemats