Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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Make Your Own Placemat Clutch Purse!

It’s really strange but some of my most creative ideas come to me right as I’m falling asleep or randomly in the middle of the night.  This is one of those ideas – making a placemat clutch purse.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!

I have NO idea why I thought of this.  Maybe it’s because I go out to the clubs all the time and am in constant need of cute clutch purses.  (Um . . . no.)  Maybe it’s because I’m totally in tune with the Spring 2015 fashion trends.  (Womp womp.)  Maybe it’s because my brain is strange.  (Ding Ding Ding – we have a winner!)  
Regardless of the reasoning behind the clutch, I’m pleasantly surprised with how cute it turned out!  Bonus was that it really did not take long to make!   Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!

Supplies

  • Placemat
  • Large needle
  • Embroidery floss
  • Velcro
  • Buttons or other embellishments
  • Iron
  • Fabric glue or hot glue

Directions

First you’ll want to determine how wide you want your clutch to be.  I thought that it would be too wide if I simply folded the placemat in half.  I turned the placemat to be vertical on the table and then folded the left and right sides inward about one inch.  I pinned those and ironed them down.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
Once my sides were ironed, I folded the placemat in half, horizontally, with the ironed sides facing in. Then I began to sew those seams shut along the edges.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
I sewed about two-thirds of the way up.  Once I reached that point, I only sewed the bottom layer of the placemat.  The top layer was left untouched.  (I hope this description makes sense. . . )Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
Next I folded the top layer of the placemat over, facing outward, and ironed it. I then sewed it down, using my embroidery floss again.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine! Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
Then I glued velcro to both of the flaps. I think I was a little aggressive in my velcro application. I definitely did not need to use that huge strip on the bottom flap . . . I think those little velcro dots would have been sufficient. What can I say? I love velcro?  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!

Finally, I sewed on some cute little buttons for a fun dose of the blingety bling.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
Cute, right?!  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
I kind of need to go out so I can use this. . . .it’s not exactly practical for the playground with my kiddos.  Cute idea! Turn a placemat into a clutch purse without a sewing machine!
So what do you think? Would you try and pass off a placemat as a clutch purse?

– Bre

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Comments

  1. Laurie says

    Bre, This is adorable and so creative!! Love the repurpose! I think it is only natural that ideas come to you before you go to sleep because you are not running around thinking about your daily activities!
    ~Laurie

    Reply

    • Bre says

      Thank you, Laurie! And yes, you are probably right about why ideas come to us at night! But sometimes, I wish my brain would just shut down and give me some peace! 🙂 Have a great day!

    • Bre says

      Thanks, lady! And you reminded me I need to schedule a sitter so we can actually have another date night! 🙂

    • Bre says

      Aw, thanks, Maria!! I got this one at Target, and they have it in coral, too! It was a lucky find! 🙂

    • Bre says

      Hi, Mila – thank you!! I hope I am not too late for the party. I have a feeling I might be, so I will plan to make it this week~ Thanks for stopping by!

  8. Erica says

    Whattttt. This is genius! I always see cute placemats at the store but then don’t buy them because we don’t really use placemats. But this opens up a whole new world of opportunities!

    Reply

    • Bre says

      Thanks, friend! I know, see I always see these cute placemats but I never buy them because they’d be food-covered in like 8 seconds, which would require me to do MORE laundry than I already do. Next up – placemat mini skirt. HAHAHA just kidding. 🙂

    • Bre says

      Woop woop!! Thanks so much lady!! I’m heading over to the party very soon! (I’m playing catch up from Easter recovery!)

    • Bre says

      Hi, oh my gosh, I wish I were a genius! More like crazy. But anyway, thank you! And no – go buy yourself a cute new (tiny) bag for date night. When you’re still in the diaper bag phase you have got to treat yourself since you lug that thing around all the time!!! 🙂

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