The Tribune

By Teri M. Bethel

When the word paper-bag is mentioned, perhaps one of the first things that come to mind is the typical brown paper bags merchants package their products in. But that is not the kind of bag I am talking about today. I'm talking about a snazzy, fun purse that can be made from paper.

To make these kinds of bags it takes a bit of stepping out of your comfort zone and allowing your creativity to flow. It is just another way to make your DYI handbag. Handbags can be made of virtually any material imaginable.

Bags made of recycled materials and turned up a notch with interesting embellishments really make fascinating conversation pieces.

The traditional materials are wonderful and we do not need to let go of them; but that is not to say we should not embrace a few new concepts either. Bringing the old with the new can be an exciting blend.

In my texture painting class, students are taught initially to paint on paper before moving to fabric and other surfaces. Most of these papers can be used for making purses. In essence it is a way to pay tribute to your art.

Unless you are planning on framing or tossing the paper in the bin, there are some other alternatives for these works of art. Of course since my skill is making unusual handbags it is a natural fit to produce paper-bag handbags with artistic paper.

Not only is the process fun but it can actually be quite ingenious when you add a few more snazzy materials to really make your trendy fashion accessory pop. So save your fabric for the inside and consider using your painted papers on the outside.

The outcome: one gorgeous handbag you could be proud of. So what materials do you have lurking around your home that can be easily converted to an amazing handbag?

Teri M. Bethel is a texture painting and handbag instructor. She is the designer of Teri Monique Handbags, a line of custom made art purses for ladies. Visit us at: www.paintwithtexture.com, Tel: 242-676-4474