Canvas Bag Valentine Project

Are you searching for ideas for a handmade gift for a friend or sweetie this Valentine’s Day? C&T author and editor Liz Aneloski has converted a Ready-to-Go!^® Blank Canvas Book into an adorable purse that doubles as gift packaging. Quite clever really! Slip in a card, poem or something personal & sweet. It is truly darling and will remind the recipient of you as they use it again and again. The final bag has two compartments inside and two pockets on the outside. Plenty of places for hiding surprises!

Ready-To-Go! Blank Canvas Book Purse

Materials:

Ready-to-Go! Blank Canvas Book (8 1/2” x 11”)
2½” x 42″ fabric strip
Two 2½” x 11” fabric strips
1¾” x 41” Shape-Flex^® fusible interfacing strip (optional; to give the handle more substance)
Various embellishments (for example: paint, ink, beads, buttons, paint, ribbon, charms, yo-yos, Lutradur^®, and embroidery)

Instructions:

1. Place the canvas book with the spine on the bottom edge and the 3 folded edges of the pages on the top edge.

2. Cut through the first fold.

3. Cut through the third fold. Do not cut through the second fold.

4. Paint (optional). We used Liquitex^® Soft Body Acrylic Paints and Inks.

5. To form the pocket, pick up the top piece of canvas, fold it back away from you, and nestle the cut edge in the spine fold between this top piece of canvas and the second layer of canvas. Press.

6. Turn the whole bag over and repeat to create a matching pocket on the other side.

7. Embellish with paint, ink, beads, buttons, paint, ribbon, charms, Lutradur and embroidery as desired. Use Inchie Ruler Tape™ to evenly space the embellishments. The All-in-One Beading Buddy has ideas and instructions for beading stitches, dangles, and edge finishes.

8. Fold one of the short strips (cut above) in half lengthwise and press. Turn under each long, raw edge ¼” and press. Repeat for the other short strip.

9. Place one of the short strips over the raw edge of the top front edge of the bag, aligning the edges of the strip with the edges of the canvas. Make sure the canvas edge is inside the folded strip. Pin in place. Topstitch 1/8” from the long edge of the strip, with straight or decorative stitching. Repeat to attach the second short strip to the other top raw edge of the bag.

10. Optional: If you want each of the outside pockets to be divided into 2 sections, stitch a vertical seam through the front panel and the front pocket. Repeat for the back pocket.

11. Optional: Center and fuse the Shape-Flex (cut above) onto the wrong side of the long fabric strip (cut above).

12. Turn the fabric strip, to the wrong side, ¼” on each short, raw edge and press.

13. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press. Turn under each long, raw edge ¼” and press.

14. Place one end of the long strip over the raw edges of one of the side edges of the bag, aligning the edges of the strip with the bottom corner of the bag. Make sure the canvas edges are inside the folded strip. Pin in place. Place the other end of the long strip in the same position on the other bottom corner of the bag. Make sure the strip is not twisted. Pin in place. Top stitch 1/8” from the long edge of the strip, from one end of the strip to the other, through all layers, backtacking at each end to complete your purse.