Tutorial - Handbag Card

Time to get girly with this pretty handbag shaped card that also features a little pocket for money or a gift card.  If you keep the embellishments to a minimum, and change the handle to a length of ribbon, it will fold up flat for posting.  How cool is that?!

TEMPLATE

1.  Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 12" x 41/2".  Lay it horizontally on your scoreboard and score at 31/2", 41/4", 43/4", 51/4", 6", and 91/2".  Fold along the score lines in the following way: mountain fold, valley fold, mountain, valley, mountain, mountain.

2.  Using a pencil and ruler, mark 1/2" down from the top, left-hand side of your card, then mark 1/2" up from the bottom, left-hand side of your card.

Now, measuring across from the top, left-hand corner, mark your card at 23/4".  Then measuring across from the bottom, left-hand corner, mark you card at 23/4".

Join the top two marks and then join the bottom two marks to make your two cut lines.  Refer to the template above.

3.  Use a craft knife or trimmer to cut along both lines.  Your card should look like the photo below.

4.  Measure and mark a horizontal line 1/2" from the top of the card.  It should start at the last score line and finish at the right-hand edge of the card.

Measure and mark a horizontal line 1/2" from the bottom of the card.  It should start at the last score line and finish at the right-hand edge of the card.

5.  Measure and mark along the top edge of the card, 3/4" from the second last score line.  Draw a line from that mark to the top horizontal line you made in step 4.

Measure and mark along the bottom edge of the card, 3/4" from the second last score line.  Draw a line from that mark to the bottom horizontal line you made in step 4.  (See the photo below)

6.  Use a craft knife to cut along both lines.  Your card should look like the photo below.

7.  I decided to add a pretty edge on the front flap of my card using a die.  You can just as easily use a border punch or simply round off the corners with a corner punch.  The photos below will give you an idea of how to add a fancy edge using a die.  Note that the cutting edge of the die is facing down.

8.  Now flip your card over so we can work on the inside.

9.  To form the little pocket for our gift card, simply add a little glue or double-sided tape to the middle fold.  In the photo below, you'll notice that I've scribbled some pencil marks on the areas where I added glue.  As you can see, I only added it on the very edges.  Make sure your glue or tape is strong enough to hold the pocket closed... I used some glossy accents.

10.  Pinch the sides closed until the glue dries.  You'll be able to slip a gift card, personal note or some money into the little pocket you've created. 

11.  The base of your card is now complete and you're ready to move on to decorating.

12.  I chose some pieces of pretty paper and cut them to size using my card base as a template for the different sections.  I then inked all the edges of the patterned paper and the card, including the folds, and glued everything in place.

13.  To add a closure, I used a little punch to make two slots in the centre of the top flap.  Unfortunately I couldn't get the punch far enough into the front of the card to make the second set of holes, so I ended up using a craft knife and ruler to cut them out.  

14.  Open the card and thread a length of ribbon through the front section.  Secure it with a dab of glue or some strong double-sided tape.  The ends of the ribbon should be threaded evenly through the two slots to the outside of the card.  To tie the card closed, feed the ribbon ends through the slots on the top flap and tie in a bow.  (Alternatively, you could add a clip or magnet closure, or perhaps a simple slot that you tuck the front flap into.)

A gift card, personal message or money will fit nicely into the centre pocket you created.  When the card is opened, your gift will be presented to the recipient.

15.  Let's add a handle.  Cut a strip of cardstock measuring 7" x 1/2".  (If you want a longer handle simply cut a longer piece of cardstock.)

16.  Use your score board to score a short line in the centre of each end to make it easier to pinch the sides together.  My score lines were only about 1/2" long.  

17.  Use some strong glue to attach the cardstock to the inside of the card.  Position one end evenly over the fold line, about 1/4" from the edge.

18.  Wrap the handle around the outside of the card and glue the end in place on the other side of the card.

19.  Gently bend the handle upward to form a neat little tuck. 

20.  Now you can embellish to your heart's desire... have fun!