How to Make a Cardboard Purse

Purses need to be sturdy to carry all your valuables safely.

Most women wouldn’t think of going out without a purse full of necessary items such as a wallet, make-up and hair care items. Crafting a cardboard purse offers you an inexpensive option for creating something original and effective for your needs. Cardboard provides a strong foundation for the purse, giving it form and stability without adding a lot of weight that you don’t need or want. Waterproofing the box inside and out adds durability and protects the contents of your purse.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard box
• Plastic shopping bag
• Waterproof adhesive
• Paintbrush
• Spatula or craft stick
• Scissors
• Measuring tape and/or ruler
• Scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper
• Hole punch
• Worsted yarn
• Knitting needles or crochet hook
• Button

Instructions

1. Choose a medium-weight cardboard box with flaps rather than a separate lid. Open the flaps and glue them to the interior of the box with waterproof adhesive. Apply the adhesive to the interior of the box and smooth a plastic bag around the box walls. Cut off any excess part that extends above the top of the box.

2. Measure the distance from the top of one side of the box, across the bottom and up to the top on the other side. Add 2 inches to get the length of paper necessary to cover your box cover. Add the width of the box, the box depth and 2 inches to arrive at the width of the paper. Cut a piece of scrapbooking or heavy-duty wrapping paper according to these dimensions.

3. Center the box on the paper and cover one side with the adhesive. Wrap one inch of the paper over the top of the box and smooth the paper on to the adhesive. Use a spatula or craft stick to push any air bubbles out. Repeat this process with the box bottom and the other side of the box.

4. Cover one end with adhesive and fold the paper on the box bottom up, creasing the side into a triangular box pleat. Fold one side in and place a small amount of adhesive on the edge of the paper before folding the other side on top of it. Repeat on the opposite side of the box. This leaves you a 1-inch tall length of paper extending above the box edge. Slit the corners of the paper 1 inch and glue the paper in place inside the box. Allow the box to cure overnight.

5. Use a paper punch to add holes one-half inch apart and one-half inch deep around the top of your box.

6. Use a heavy worsted yarn to knit or single crochet a 3-inch tall top to the box, threading the yarn through the holes to attach it to the box. Start your needlework at the corner on one end of the box and work your needlework in a circular fashion, moving up to the next row when you reach your starting point.

7. Begin your handle when your needlework reaches the 3-inch mark by turning and starting a new row when you reach the opposite corner. Knot or crochet a strip long enough to reach across the box with as much length as you desire. Place a large button in the center of the front side and make a yarn loop on the other side to provide a closure.

Tips & Warnings

• Your knitted or crocheted rows will vary according to the yarn and needle size. Use a heavy-weight yard and medium-sized needles and adjust your stitching accordingly.