Make Little Girls' Purses from Gift Bags

Want to have a really unique and fun party for your little girl? How about a purse-making party where young girls turn gift bags into purses they can really use? If your daughter is having an all girls party, the purse making theme is perfect - and inexpensive!

Gather gift bags you've kept over time, have the girls bring some from home, or just go purchase a few inexpensive gift bags at a dollar theme store. The best gift bags for the purse project are the ones that are thick and shiny although any gift bag is useable. While you're there, look around for notions that will be fun for the girls to add to the purses while decorating.

When the girls make the purses, it'll be necessary to first remove the handles. Some gift bags have cording-type handles, passed through grommets, then knotted to secure. Unknot the cord and remove. Other gift bags, particularly paper ones, sometimes have handles of stiffened twine, with the bottoms of the handles caught glued between the outside and inside paper of the bag. For these, cut the bag off, just below the handles.

Paper bags generally have a raw edge at the very top whereas laminated - or shiny types - are usually folded over to the inside, leaving a smooth edge. Girls might consider gluing on small boas, feathers, cording, or another edging that will cover the raw edge of the bag. It'll not only cover the edge but will also add glamour to the bag.

There are many different designs that can be done to the bags. Girls can use pom-poms, buttons, glitter glue, sequin or beads to make a monogram on the bag. Or, they can cut a small window out, on the front side of the bag, then tape a picture of their pet in the window. A different design can be created on each bag just by using pictures cut from magazines to glue onto the bag.

Pieces of leather and hardware pieces add to the look of the bag. Old, narrow girls' belts can be cut to make straps that can close the bag. Glue a small metal piece, a craft arrowhead, a painted wooden shape, or another novelty item to the end of the belt piece and place velcro underneath to close the bag.