Silhouette Assembly Instructions for Purses

I had so much fun this last week designing these new files for you. 

I have five new purse cutting files available at the Silhouette Online store .

If you want to see other purse tutorials on my blog, here are a few others:

Bucket Purse

Circle Handle Purses

Circle Handle Faux stitch purse

Purse Gift Card holder

Circle Purse

Two Strap Purse

Barrel Purse

If you make any of these, please feel free to share your projects with us on my Facebook page. 

For all of these projects you will need this Equipment:

To cut these purses you will need an Electronic Cutting machine like the Silhouette Cameo or Cricut Explore. These files work great with both 12x12 and 8.5x11 format cutting machines.

You will also need the Silhouette Studio Files or SVG files that are linked in the instructions below.

Okay...now for the project instructions...

File Name:
Purse Round Canteen Silhouette ID #56891

Default Size:

5 1/2 inches wide by 9 inches tall. (canteen purse)

File Set Up in the Studio Software:

For all of these files except the Canteen purse, the pieces fit on a 12x12 sheet of card stock. Use double sided card stock to get contrasting elements. If you are using a portrait machine, there is no need to shrink these, but you will need to move them around so the pieces fit into the live cutting area on your screen in your Studio software.

After cutting out all of your pieces, assemble as instructed below:

1. Glue the dotted edge details to the front and back of the purse as shown. Attach the strap with brads in the pre-cut holes. Attach the strap band (the piece that holds the strap down) with two brads. Ink the edges with stamping ink if desired.

2.-3. Start glueing on the first side at the top first tab. (use a good paper glue that dries fast) You may want to clip the first tab to make adhering the other tabs easier.  Curve the side around the tabs. Now Glue the opposite side.

4. Glue the back of the purse to the sides.

5-7. Glue on the bottom of the purse. You can cut two of the purse bottom pieces if you want to line the inside of the purse to sandwich the tabs between layers of cardstock. Picture 5 shows a liner piece of card stock on the inside of the purse covering the tabs on the bottom.

8. Fold the sides as shown and pinch them together to give the purse shape.

9. Add adhesive velcro dots to secure the flap to the purse.

File Name:
Purse Baguette with flower lace Silhouette ID #56892
Default Size:
6 inches wide by 3 inches tall (7 inches tall with handle.) 

1-3. Glue the strap inside the slot. Picture 2 shows the reverse side. Picture 3 shows what it will look like on the front side after being glued in the slot.

4. Glue the contrasting lace panels to the front and back of the purse.

5. Glue the bottom pieces together and attach with brads.

6. Fold up the sides, making sure to fold the little tabs in.

7. Fold the sides as shown.

8. Curve the sides as shown.

9. Attach the side pieces to the tabs with a good paper glue. Use a clip to make it easy on yourself.

10-11. Attach the side buckles by using the little rounded rectangular piece that folds in half. Run it through the buckle, then attach it to the purse with a brad. 

12. Roll the flap a few times with a thick marker or dowel. This will give the flap it's curved shape.

13. Apply adhesive velcro dots to the purse to hold it shut.

File Name:
Purse Trapezoid with pocket Silhouette ID #56895

Default Size:
5 1/2 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches tall.

1. Assemble the front to the back with glue and brads as shown with the pink and green purse above. Fold the side pieces as shown. 

2-3. Glue the side to the tabs on the front of the purse. Make sure to line up the top of the side panel with the top of the front of the purse. 

4-5. Curve the side piece down, and glue to the tabs. Tuck in the side piece over the bottom, use glue to hold it. (you may need to move the brad ends up while glueing the side panels. Then move the brad ends back down.)

6. Pinch the purse to shape the sides.

7. Assemble the pocket. Add the little scallop to the top of the pocket.

8. Accordion fold the sides of the pocket. 

9. Put glue on the last accordion fold of the pocket. Press it to the front of the purse. Cut two if you want one on the back too.

10. Glue the scallops to the front and back of the purse around the curve. Add your circle handles.

File Name:
Purse with dotted trim Silhouette ID #56898

Default Size:
5 1/2 inches wide by 4 inches tall without strap. 9 inches tall with strap.

I am not showing you the full instructions on this one as it would be repetitive of the purses assembled above. However, I do have some close ups of where the little embellishing pieces go. You may want to ink the edges if you are using the same color for the contrasting pieces. 

File Name:
Purse angled pocket Silhouette ID #56902

Default Size:
5 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/4 inches tall without strap. 9 inches tall with strap.

Once again, this purse is constructed like the above purses. I only have close ups on the details so you know where to add those pieces. I did show a close up of the inside of the purse when glueing the side panels on. This may help you to see how the side panels tuck under the brad wings. 

I'd love to see your creations! 

Please share them with us on my Facebook page, or send me a picture.