How to Make a Book Purse

If you want to make a fashion statement and recycle that old book you've had lying around, making a book purse is a great way to do it (and gives you a new purse without spending a lot of money).

Things You'll Need

• A book
• Cardboard
• Fabric
• Glue
• Scissors
• Measuring Tape
• Ribbon
• Bobby pins or paper clips

Instructions

1. Select your materials. You will need: a book you don’t mind destroying; fabric that matches the book; a long, wide piece of ribbon; heavy cardboard; glue; scissors; measuring tape; and bobby pins or paper clips.

2. Gut the book, leaving only the cover and spine intact.

3. Measure the space between the two covers (when the book is pressed against a table with the spine flat and the sides parallel to each other). Determine both height and width.

4. Cut two rectangles from the cardboard that you collected earlier. If you have a choice between different pieces of cardboard, choose the thickest cardboard you can get. This will give the sides of the purse more strength. The pieces should be cut to the dimension you just obtained in Step 3.

5. Cover the two rectangles, as well as the inside of the book, with fabric, gluing it in place. Allow to dry.

6. Glue the panels into the book, with any gap or seam in the fabric facing inside the purse. Prop up and allow to dry.

7. Measure from your shoulder to your waist. Then cut twice as much ribbon. Glue each end of the ribbon to the inside of one of the rectangles to make a strap. Secure this firmly with bobby pins or paper clips until it has dried.

Tips & Warnings

• Always let glue dry.

• Don’t try to overload the purse.

• Hot glue works best if you have it.

• Make sure the book you are using is not valuable before you begin.

• If you plan on taking the item out in inclement weather, spray it with a sealant. You can find one at most shoe stores.