No-Sew Denim Pocket Purse Featuring May Arts Ribbon!

Today I'm sharing some fun news AND a great upcycling tutorial, so grab some coffee or tea and spend a little time with me!

Last month I was thrilled and stunned to find out I had made it to Round 2 of the May Arts design team call! I love their products, and they have so many styles, textures, and colors of ribbon that they are truly the go-to place for trims. You need look nowhere else! Making it to Round 2 means that I had to come up with a project that featured May Arts in a fun and exciting way. After putting my thinking cap on, I decided upon a purse for my daughter. She is a creative girl, and she loves that momma is a crafty chick. I told her I would make her a purse out of daddy's old jean pockets and she was very thrilled. She said "Mommy that will be perfect because it will be something from daddy and something from you and I can keep it forever!"  That melted my heart, and I am so happy she appreciates the thought and effort behind upcycled and homemade gifts!

This purse is completely no-sew. I don't own a sewing machine, and even though I can sew by hand if need be, I wanted to share a fun tying technique that anyone can do. For this project, you will need:

• Tons of May Arts ribbons!
• Two denim pockets, cut from old jeans.
• A crop-o-dile or other punch that will go through denim.
• Lots and lots of brads, I ended up using 52.
• Fabri Tac from Beacon Adhesives.
• Pony beads

Step 1: Using a sharpie and a ruler, mark evenly spaced holes just inside the denim pocket seam. These are the holes that will be tied to make the purse secure. Use a crop-o-dile to punch through the holes.

Step 2: Line up the second denim pocket  so that it matches the first one. Use a sharpie in the holes that were already punched to mark the back of the second pocket. This ensures that the pockets will align correctly. Punch the holes in the second pocket.

                                     

Step 3: Gather brads and fairly thin strings for tying the purse together. I used SM03 Navy String and strands of burlap taken from a section of  398-4-11 Natural Wired Burlap.

                                

                                 

Step 4: Begin  the tying process. Place the pockets back to back. Thread a piece of string through the holes of both pockets, and tie them together snugly.

                                   

Step 5: Position the brads. Each hole needs a brad, so there will be two that need placed after tying each string. Place a brad through the hole, spread the pockets apart, and flatten the wings down. Each brad needs to go through only one pocket.

Step 6: Continue down the side of the pocket, tying a hole and then placing the brads in each as you go.

                                   

Step 7: At the bottom of the purse, add a fringe by looping extra string underneath the brad wings. A tiny bit of Fabri Tac placed after putting in the brads will help hold them in place. I used  363 Twisted Burlap in Red and White for this.

Step 8: Continue tying strings, placing brads, adding fringe, etc across  the bottom and up the opposite side.

 

Step 9: When you reach the last hole, you need to put in the ribbon that will be the purse strap. Remove the brads from the top hole on the other side and add the strap to that side as well. Thread this ribbon up and through, then do the side-tying and brad techniques again. After that, start tying knots in the purse strap ribbon. Tie each side up until you reach the desired length, then tie both sides together to make the finished strap. Your basic purse should be completed at this point!

Step 10: With the purse form completed, now you can get to the fun stuff: Decorating!  I made some simple rolled flowers with 408 Woven Burlap in Red, White, and Blue.  Star brads from my stash were perfect flower centers. I made leaves with 445 Faux Burlap. A few strips of SA03 and SA14 Satin/White Star ribbon in Red and Blue completed the look. These were all attached with Fabri Tac.

Step 11: Add some whimsy to the purse with some pony beads tied into the bottom fringe.

Now the purse is done! This is a great project to sit down and do on a rainy day, or when you just want to throw  a movie in, but keep your hands busy while watching it.

The best part for me, was the look on my daughter's face when I gave her this. She was completely overjoyed. She has taken it with her everywhere since! It's perfect for her money, lip gloss,  and small toys.

What do you think? Is this something you think you might try? Let me know!