Embellished Bags

Figure A

Steps:

Collage pin

1. Spread a light even layer of fabric glue on the purse bottom foam. Lay the foam (glue down) on the center of the maroon fabric (figure A). Trim the corners of the fabric to reduce bulk. Pull and wrap the fabric around the back of the foam and glue to secure. Wrap and glue a 5-inch length of the mauve silk ribbon horizontally around the fabric-covered board, approximately 1 inch down from the top edge. Repeat with the blue silk ribbon, wrapping it around the lower edge of the mauve ribbon.

Figure D

2. Typeset the word "legacy" or any desired word. "Legacy" was set in 24 point Bickley Script typeface. Print "legacy" on pink scrapbook paper and tear it. Adhere the front of the printed word to the inside of the glass lid with Diamond Glaze (Make sure all finger prints are cleaned from the glass first.). Arrange the scrap bits of lace, ribbon and trim behind the printed word and push the ribbons and lace into the glass lid (figure D), adhering with Diamond Glaze. Let dry. To complete the collage, attach the assembled glass lid piece to the center of the fabric covered foam with gem glue. Let dry thoroughly.

Figure E

3. Adhere felt to the back of the assembled collage piece (figure E) covering all raw edges with fabric glue. Wrap three purse crimps around the upper edge of the collage. Pinch crimps down with jewelry pliers so they grab onto the front and back of the foam. Remove one of the D-ring clamps from the Bead-It Kit and pinch the clamp onto the center bottom of the fabric-covered foam. (Use gentle pressure with jewelry pliers). Rub all hardware with the metallic rub-ons to create an antiqued look. Spray lightly with matte sealer. Caution: Mask (cover) the center area of collage with a piece of scrap paper BEFORE spraying.

Figure G

4. Loop the textural fibers through the hook of the D-ring and allow the excess to dangle along the bottom edge. Randomly thread the disk beads and small spacer beads onto the fibers, knotting to secure. Trim to the desired length (figure G).

5. Attach two tie-tacks to the felt backing with gem glue. Let dry thoroughly. Pin the finished collage to the front of the tulip handbag.

Figure H

Custom-beaded handles

6. Ink the Italian script rubber stamp with royal purple ink and place the stamp rubber side up. Push a large wooden bead securely onto the handle of the paintbrush. Roll the bead firmly and slowly over the inked script image (figure H). Carefully remove the bead from the paintbrush handle and set aside to dry. Repeat this process with the remaining wooden beads.

Figure I

7. Unscrew the end pieces of the changeable handles and remove the existing beads, reserving eight of the black beads. Re-bead the handles (figure I) with the large-hole silver spacer beads, the plum glass beads, the stamped wooden beads and the reserved black beads.

8. Carefully remove the ring hardware from the end of the screw-on purse handles with jewelry pliers and set aside. Slip the lobster claw handle hook onto the hardware. Move the hardware back into place and gently squeeze shut with jewelry pliers.

9. Remove the existing handles from the Tulip Bag and replace with a custom beaded handle by hooking on to the existing loops inside the purse.