DIY Photo Purses

Photo purses are useful and easy to make.

Photo purses make completely customizable gifts or fashion statements. You can choose your favorite photos, and with only a few materials, easily and quickly create your own photo purse.

Things You'll Need

• Photos
• Printer
• Iron-on photo or transfer paper
• Fabric purse or tote bag
• Iron

Instructions

1. Purchase and wash a blank-sided fabric purse or tote bag. Most craft stores carry them.

2. Print the desired photos on iron-on photo paper, available from office supply stores and print companies. Follow the printing instructions for the particular brand of paper you obtain to ensure printing results on the correct side.

3. Lay the purse down flat on an ironing board or a smooth surface to prevent creasing. Any folds will result in a distorted finished image, so make sure the fabric is smoothly laid out.

4. Iron the photos face-down onto the fabric to transfer the desired image, following the instructions from your paper manufacturer. Let the image cool.

5. Remove the iron-on photo paper.

6. Add other embellishments to your purse, such as buttons, pockets, chains or zippers.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with collages by layering photos over one another, but iron each image separately. Never place the iron directly onto a previously transfered image, as this causes melting.

• Print black and white photos, then fill in the color with fabric markers after the fabric has cooled and the image has set.

• If you try to remove the iron-on photo paper before cooling you may burn your fingers and possibly peel the photo off before it has completely transfered to the purse.

References

• HP Home Printing: Iron On Transfers

Resources

• eHow: How To Make Iron-On Transfers