As promised, here is my other Capri-sun craft I promised you all.
Purses!
Is it just me, or are they ah-freaking-dorable?!
K-bear couldn’t have been more thrilled!
She snatched them right up the second I was finished.
And I’m pretty sure she thoroughly enjoyed every second of her photo-op as well. 😉
Now that she has two purses, all she needs now for Christmas are her two front teeth!
Uni the Unicorn enjoyed a ride.
These bags are the perfect size for a Webkinz or small stuffed animal.
I’m seeing lots of animal and purse combo gifts in my nieces futures…
I’m still debating whether I *need* one for myself or not. ‘Cause what 30 year old wouldn’t need one?
*~*~*~*
So now here is my pathetic attempt at describing how I sewed this purse together. I’ll try to keep it coherent.
First, you need 10 clean used Capri-sun wrappers.
(To clean them, read my other post about Capri-sun lunch sacks.)
First step – make the handles first. (I learned this the hard way).
Sew two wrappers together (one above the other). Overlap the wrappers about 1/4 inch and sew across them (I used a zig zag stitch ’cause it’s cute.)
Fold it in half length-wise and then mark the center.
Cut the wrappers in half down the middle length-wise.
Fold each half in half again length-wise and stitch up either side.
Now take 2 wrappers and sew them together (side-by-side) . Do this twice. These are the sides of the purse.
Take your straps and sew them to the fronts of each of the side sections, like this:
Here’s an up-close of how I attached the handles (I just sewed an X and a square on each one).
Now it’s time to sew the bottom of the bag. Overlap two wrappers until they are the width of the side pieces. Sew together.
Now you are ready to assemble the bag!
Here’s how you will need to lay out your pieces to create your bag. You’ll need two additional pouches – one for either side of the bag.
(This tut is how to make a flat-bottom bag which is a little harder to make.)
Sew your pieces together like this. Make sure your side pieces are overlapping the bottom of the bag on top of the bottom piece.
If your bottom piece is too long, trim off the extra at this point. This is also a good close-up of how I attached the sides to the bottom.
Sew the other sides of the bag to the bottom the exact same way you sewed the handled-sides.
Finally, fold up all 4 sides to create the “box” or the purse, and just sew them together wrong-sides-together.
*If you try to sew the sides together before you attach the bottom you will not be able to create a flat-bottom bag. I’ve tried it and trust me, it doesn’t work!
When I say “flat-bottom” what I mean is that the bottom will be flat like this:
… Instead of inverted like this:
(The inverted ones are easier to sew, but I like the look of the flat-bottom one better.)
And a fun view of the innards of the bag…
And THAT, my friends, is how to make a cute little mini-purse for your mini-me’s!
*~*~*~*~*
PS For those of you who are following my moving saga, after 2.5 days in the car, we arrived in Texas safely and are staying with friends and family while we continue the torturous house search. We’ve still got the offer on the short-sale house, but it’s taking a long time and we’ve now found some other houses we want to check out. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a house I love and can’t live without very soon so that we can close on it and not be homeless anymore! House hunting is not fun! I’ll keep you all posted on how it goes. Wish me luck! I need a house so I can start decorating it for all of you! 😉
Thanks for your continued support!
Here are more Caprisun posts that I’ve made:
SueAnn says
Love these bags! Thanks for the Tut!! And continued good luck on your house hunting adventure!!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Suzanne says
Love it! Too bad I don’t own a sewing machine…or the fact that I hate sewing…
Tammy @ Not Just Paper and Glue says
Your purses are adorable! Hope you find a house soon. I guess that is the one good thing about a new house – you get permission to decorate 🙂
Ashley says
Absolutely adorable. Love the tutorial.
Kelly says
Cute bags!
Just curious- what city (or area) in Texas? I only ask because I am a non-native Texan living in Texas!
Emily@decorchick says
Yep, they are adorable!! Love it.
Michelle@Dibble Dabble Life says
Cute bags! I hope the house hunt does not take tooooo long! I have a friend in Austin going through the same thing right now I hear it is not fun! I will send good house hunting vibes your way!
shelly says
those are crazy cute! love them!
Chelsea says
So many ideas for such a simple thing! I love it! I have wanted to do a bag for awhile but just haven’t got around to it. You have inspired me to Do It! Thanks!
val says
I came across your blog tonight and I LOVE IT!!! You have so many wonderful ideas.
Holyoke Home says
That was a lot of WORK! Capri Sun better buy some ad space on this here blog!
Sunny's Life in Rehab says
Oh wow, I thought you had already picked out a house! That’s got to be very stressful, but I’m sure it’ll all work out for the best in the end.
Samantha says
Cute – she looks happy to have them!!
Sam
Mom.Undecided.
http://momundecided.blogspot.com/
*Come on over – I’m hosting my first giveaway!*
Robin says
I have been meaning to do this for about five years. Thank you so much for the tutorial. At least I finally know where to start…LOL
T.bird@Nestled In Rosenberg says
Sooooo so cute!!
T.bird@Nestled In Rosenberg says
Soooo so cute! Adorable little model too! 🙂
Lorie says
Can’t wait to hear what you thought of the other houses! You know you want to be my neighbor!
I might bust out the Mr. Rogers theme song!
Victoria @ DesignTies says
These are SO cute!! So very clever 🙂
Victoria
J. Hill says
Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!
Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple says
Those are super cute!!
Michelle W says
I’ve had my boys save capri sun pouches for a year now. I’ve been looking forward to making some cute bags but was DREADING cleaning the pouches.
Not anymore!! I had no idea it was so stinkin’ easy. Thanks!!
I’m totally gonna make lunch sacks too, and a pencil holder.
marjan says
I love it! Shame they only sell the blue bags of capri sonne here in Holland. Still, I think I’m going to try and make one
Annjilla says
What a WONDERFUL demo! They’re my favorite and yours didn’t disappoint! Thanks so much for sharing!
belinha says
These are great! I’m from Portugal. In the town where I leave there’s someone making similar bags with coffee bags. They are so popular. I want to make one tow but I never do. These are more fun and colorful! And the girl is lovely too!
Monica says
These are great!! My daughter would flip if I made her one!!! 🙂
Karen says
Wow….you are amazing!!! hen do you find the time!! I need to get off this computer and get CRACKIN’…..thanks for sharing!
Eve says
Wow! These look so cute! My little ones would love them. I guess I need to work on my sewing skills 🙂 Thanks for the tutorial
Jen says
I finally made one of these this morning and it was adorable! My daughter decided to give it to her friend who had a birthday yesterday, so I’ll be making another in the very near future. Thanks for the fabulous tutorial!
Julie says
Oh my gosh…so cute!! Very creative fun little purses! Love it! http://sweetandsassygirl.com
Annalee says
Thanks for having such clear instructions for this. My 12-year-old daughter went to a group where they learned how to do this but there wasn’t time for her to make it. So she brought home everything to make it but I know I won’t have time for a couple of weeks and she will forget by then. This makes it so easy for us to spend time doing something she wants (without the money output!).
glenda says
Thanks for the how to my teen cuz was asking me to make her one [only one with sewing stuff ]going to try this
Michelle says
What size needle did you use?
Tacita Hester says
This is 2nd post, in the first post, I failed to mention that I have my own Capri sun packs for Melissa. I really need to get in contact with you to see if you could make the purses for me & I pay your fee. Thanks!
TacitaBigelowhester@yahoo.com
shannon steele says
thanks for the tut. I see gift bags in my near future. also see making smaller ones for candy bags for Halloween treats for school.. loving this idea. thanks again.
Lauri T says
Would you share what kind of thread and needle you used? I haven’t sewn much but own a machine and would really like to make these with some of the kids I teach. Thanks!
Allison says
I used the needle that came with the machine and basic cheap thread that you buy at the craft store. I didn’t do anything fancy!
Clara MarÃn Plasencia says
IncreÃble idea de reciclado, linda bolsa