Wooden Purse

Several months ago my friend Betty asked if I was up to a little challenge. She had purchased several different style wooden containers at the dollar store and she wanted to see what we could come up with to alter them. She gave me two identical boxes to work with - one for me and one for her. I have been so crazy busy that these lay by the wayside feeling lonely and unloved but after our play date on Sunday, my creative juices began to flow and I knew it was time to pull these puppies out of the closet.



First I should tell you that these containers come with a thing strip of leather that wraps around from top to bottom and ties around the wooden knob. I remembered Betty mentioning that she did not like this and personally, I had to agree with her. So I took out my screwdriver set and removed the knob so that I could remove the leather. I needed the knob off anyway, so that I could cover the container with paper. I had seen Betty admiring my retired Cutie Pie Designer paper on Sunday so I just knew that I wanted to use this paper on the little wooden 'purse'. I used my tacky glue and applied my paper to it. I then took out some Antique White craft paint and painted the inside of the purse, the sides on the outside and the knob. Anytime I alter an item and cover with paper, I like to seal it, so that the paper is a bit better protected from dirt, so I sprayed it with Krylon Clear Coat. To me the purse was too plain with nothing on the sides, so I took out my Inspired By Nature set and stamped Live With Passion on one side using my versamark ink, sprinklind detail black EP on it and heat setting.

I didn't want my purse to be too plain, so I added two elements to the outside. I added some bling from the pretties kit, which I placed on a bit of hemp twine and wrapped around the knob as a purse charm and since I had nothing to hold the purse closed after removing the leather strip, I added a bit of 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. Rather than undo the ribbon and retie each time you with to open the purse, it nicely slides off the top and slides back on when you want to close it up.


We all know that you need to have something to put in a purse so rather than the usual clutter, I decided this would be a card purse. This is the perfect size for 3 x 3 mini cards/ notes.

I dug into my stamping cupboards and pulled out an old package of love notes and envelopes, some rub-on's, my Oval All stamp set and my Scallop Oval punch and of course, some ribbon.


I began with my blue card. I want to say it's Baja Breeze but it my even be an older in-colour blue - I just can't remember. The birds and love sentiment are rub-on's from the past Spring Mini catalogue placed on a bit of white cardstock with some sale-a-bration celery ribbon wrapped around and layered onto my blue base.



The 'red' card is likely Pomegranate. I used some really old decorative corner white rub-ons in the corners. I then stamped Fabulous Friend in Riding Hood Red and punched out using the Scallop Oval punch. I added a strip of Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon behind the sentiment and popped it up on the card.





For my third note, I used a Vanilla card on which I layered some Kiwi Kiss textured cardstock. I added some Kiwi Kiss Grosgrain ribbon around the cardstock and placed a black corner rub-on in the corner. I then stamped my Best Wishes sentiment in Kiwi Kiss ink on vanilla cardstock, punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch and popped it up on the card.

I think Betty will love the final products and this will give her a few quick cards to use in an emergency.

I hope you have a great day.

Margaret :)