How to Make a Coffin Purse

A coffin purse is also a useful Halloween accessory.

Before you run out and buy an expensive Gothic purse from your favorite store consider making one yourself. Coffin purses are unique and fashionable whether you're going out to the club, or for a walk in the graveyard. You are the designer so you get to choose what fabric and accessories to use. You can also construct your purse out of duct tape, foam board and craft glue.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• 1 yard of fabric
• Metal clasp
• 2 metal hinges
• Purse handle
• Craft glue
• Box cutter
• Scissors
• 2 sheets of black foam board
• Duct tape
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• 4 felt non-slip adhesive dots
• Silver permanent marker

Instructions

1. Pick one of the corners on the foam board and draw a 7-inch by 11-inch rectangle using the silver marker. Start at the upper right corner of the rectangle and measure down three inches, make a small mark. Repeat on the opposite side. Begin at the upper right corner and measure 1 1/4 inches to the left make a small mark. Repeat on the opposite side. Go to the bottom right corner of the rectangle and measure left 1 1/2 inches and mark it. Do the same on the opposite corner.

2. Connect the marks to create a coffin shape. Repeat the same process on another corner of the foam board. Measure each side of the coffin. Draw boxes that are the width of the coffin and 3 inches high - this is going to be the body of the purse. Draw six more boxes that are the width of the sides of the coffin and 1 1/2 inches high. The shorter boxes are going to be the lid of the purse.

3. Cut out each piece by using the straight edge of the ruler and box cutter. Trace the coffin part four times onto your fabric, make sure they have plenty of room in between them. Place four drops of craft glue onto the edge of one of the coffin shapes. Place one of the 3-inch corners onto the glue drops. Press down firmly and hold the piece in place for 30 seconds. Secure the piece with duct tape on the outside and the inside.

4. Place four more drops of glue onto the edge of the coffin next to the piece that was just glued. Apply glue to the side of the freshly glued piece. Place the next piece on top of the glue and hold down for 30 seconds. Repeat for each piece of the body of the coffin. Repeat the same steps for assembling the lid.

5. Draw boxes on the fabric that are connected to the sides of the coffin shape. Make the boxes big enough to cover both the outside and inside of the coffin. Do this for both the lid and the body of the purse. Cut out each pattern out of the fabric including the two coffin shapes, make sure to keep the lid and body sections intact.

6. Glue the fabric to the coffin box and lid. Secure the inside by using duct tape. Glue the fabric coffin shapes into the bottom of the lid and body of the purse. Let both sections dry.

7. Cut a small slip into the fabric where you want the hinges to be. Screw the hinges into the lid with the screwdriver. Cut two small slits into the fabric where you want the front clasp to be. Screw the clasp onto the front of the purse.

8. Cut two small slits into the fabric on the front of the purse where the handle will be, then screw in the handle of the purse. Attach the four non-slip adhesive dots to the four corners of the bottom of the purse. You now have your very own coffin purse.

Tips & Warnings

• All of the supplies needed can be found either at a local hardware store or craft store.

• When you are using the box cutter be sure to cut away from yourself to avoid injury.

References

• Rustic Girls: How to Make a Coffin Purse
• You Tube: How to Make a Coffin Purse
• The Haunted Yard: Coffin Purse

Resources

• Be My Goth.com: Tutorials