How to Make a Clutch Purse Out of Cardstock Paper

Learn how to use a piece of card stock to make a clutch purse.

Make a simple yet useful clutch purse with the use of a sheet of card stock paper. In a clutch purse, you can carry small essential items such as money or your credit card on a night out and leave your bigger purse at home. Card stock is a type of paper that is thick, but not as thick as cardboard, so it is easier to fold and work with to make a folded clutch.

Things You'll Need

• 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock
• Fabric
• Pen
• Scissors
• Pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Clothing iron
• Hot glue gun
• Velcro

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock paper on top of two pieces of sturdy fabric, such as linen, velvet or denim. Trace around the edges of the paper, about 1/4 inch away from the edge of the sheet, with a pen. Cut out the fabric along the traced lines.

2. Stack the two sheets of fabric with the right sides of the fabric facing each other and the edges aligned. Pin the edges together.

3. Sew together the edges of the two sheets of fabric, a little less than 1/4 inch from the edges. Use a straight stitch and secure stitches by going back and forth on one stitch at the beginning and end of the line of stitches. Sew only the long sides and one short side.

4. Fold a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock in thirds width-wise, the way you would fold a letter to put in an envelope. The bottom edge of the sheet should meet up with the fold of the top section, with the edge of the top of the sheet aligned with the bottom fold. The top fold forms the flap opening of the clutch. Unfold the paper.

5. Turn the sewn fabric right-side-out and iron the edges with a clothing iron to crease the seams. Insert the sheet of card stock into the opening on the short edge of the fabric pieces. Make sure the corners and edges of the card stock are up against the inside edges of the fabric.

6. Fold the open edges of the fabric inward, pin them together and sew them together with a straight stitch.

7. Fold the fabric covered card stock along the creases you made when you folded it before. Run a line of hot glue along the inside edges to glue the sides of the clutch together. Press the sides together and hold them together with binder clips for 45 minutes to let the glue harden. Remove the binder clips.

8. Attach the toothed side of a piece of Velcro to the middle of the underside of the flap cover of the clutch with a dab of hot glue. Glue the soft side of the Velcro to the front of the clutch where the toothed side touches. Wait 45 minutes for the hot glue to harden before using the clutch.

References

• The DIY Dish; How to Make a Clutch Handbag; April 2011