Santa Purse Gift Bag: Adorable Bags for Christmas

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY PAPER SANTA PURSE GIFT BAG DESIGNS

First, download my Santa Purse Gift Bag files from my free library – look for Design #679. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

In the SVG folder, you’ll find “score” and “no-score” versions of my purse design to cut on a cutting machine. Score versions are for those of you who have a scoring tool and want to use it, while the no-score versions are for those who can’t use a scoring tool or just prefer dashed cut lines instead of scores.

There is also a DXF folder with cut files, and a PDF folder with versions you can print and cut by hand.

Upload the SVG file you need to Design Space to get started. I’ll demonstrate with the “no-score” version on foil cardstock, which has some dashed cut lines that are creases and some that are decorative stitches. I’ll show you which ones to fold, and which ones are just for decoration.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload SVG files.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR SANTA PURSE GIFT BAG DESIGN

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. In Cricut Design Space, open a blank Canvas.
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse.”
4. Select the paper Santa purse SVG file of your choice.
   NOTE: I’ll pick the “no-score” version.
   TIP: If you want to use the "score" version, follow the steps in my Advent Tree Calendar tutorial to adjust and Attach the Score lines.
5. Click “Continue.”
6. Click “Upload” to add the design to your Canvas.
7. Click the minus (-) icon in the lower left corner to zoom out and see everything on your Canvas.
   
   NOTE: If your project uploads differently than is shown on this page (with the layers stacked on top of each other vs spread out), this is intentional to make sure your design does not change sizes on you. If you prefer to use the unstacked version of the design files, upload one of the files in the “Unstacked” folder and then make sure your layers match these dimensions:
   
   santa-purse-noscore-stacked-jennifermaker-SVG: 19.55" x 24.83"
   
   santa-purse-score-stacked-jennifermaker-SVG: 19.55" x 24.83"
   
   santa-purse-joy-stacked-jennifermaker-SVG: 11.16" x 15.18"
   
   
8. The two large tapered square pieces are the front and back of the purse. The two large rectangular pieces with tabs on the left and right are the purse’s sides. The rectangular piece with four tabs is the bottom of the purse, and the rectangular piece with three tabs is the inside pocket.
   
   The four black rectangles (two short and two long) are the belt pieces, and the square-shaped outline piece is the belt buckle. The eight long, thin strips are the handle pieces.
   
   The four berry pieces and four leaf pieces are the (optional) holly accents.
   
   The two white strips are (optional) patterns for cutting the faux fur. The large white rectangle is the (optional) reinforcement panel for the bottom of the purse.
   
   
   
9. Click “Save” and give your project a name.
10. The design is ready for you to cut as is, but you can make a few adjustments to save time or material.
    
    NOTE: I’ll show you which adjustments you can make, but I’ll keep my design in its original state.
    
11. Ungroup the design to work with the pieces individually.
    
    
    
12. To delete any optional pieces you don’t want, select them on the Canvas and click the “Trash Can” icon.
    NOTE: The optional pieces are the holly berries and leaves, the fur trim patterns, and the bottom reinforcement panel. You can also remove four of the handle pieces, but only do this if you’re using two-sided or solid core cardstock, or else the back side of your handles may not match the front side.
13. To change the color of a piece to match the cardstock you’ll use, select it on the Canvas and use the Color Box next to “Operation” to pick a new color.
14. Your project is ready to cut!
    
    
    

CUTTING

1. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
2. Click “Make.”
3. On the Prepare screen, make sure the correct Material Size is selected for your materials.
   
   
   
4. Select the first mat again and click “Continue.”
5. On the Make screen, set the Base Material for your first mat. Mine is the white mat. I’ll use “Heavy Cardstock - 100 lb (270 gsm)” and change the Pressure to “More” to cut the fur trim patterns and reinforcement panel.
   TIP: Changing the Pressure to “More” results in a cleaner cut.
   
   
   
6. Place your first piece of cardstock face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat.
   
   
   
7. Use a brayer to make sure it’s fully adhered.
8. Check that your Premium Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
9. Press the flashing “Load/Unload” button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut.
10. Press the flashing “Go” button to begin cutting.
11. When it has finished cutting, don’t unload the mat right away. Gently lift a corner of the material to make sure the cuts went all the way through. If not, press the “Go” button again to make a second pass of cuts in the same spots.
12. When the cuts are complete, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and roll it back to release the cardstock.
13. Use a scraper tool to remove any small bits left on your mat after you remove the cut pieces.
14. For the remaining mats, set your material to the “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” setting with “More” pressure to cut both the foil cardstock and the regular cardstock.
    NOTE: After you set the material for a mat color, you can check the box next to “Remember Material Settings” to save time between mats.
15. Follow Steps 6-13 to load and cut the cardstock for the rest of your mats.
    TIP: Use the spatula to help lift delicate parts, and your weeding tool to poke out small bits of cardstock that may have been left behind. If you have any issues with your cuts, go to jennifermaker.com/cleaner-cuts.
    
    
    
16. Lay out all of the pieces face up in organized piles. If you cut everything like I did, you should have:

• Front and back pieces for your purse, as well as a long fur trim pattern.
• Two side pieces for your purse, as well as a short fur trim pattern.
• Two short belt straps and two long belt straps, plus a belt buckle.
• A pocket piece, eight handle pieces, and a bottom piece for your purse, as well as a bottom reinforcement panel insert.
• Four holly leaf pieces and four holly berry pieces.
  TIP: Refer to the Design Space screen if you’re not sure about some pieces’ orientation.
  
  

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR PAPER SANTA PURSE GIFT BAG

FOLD THE SANTA PURSE PIECES

1. Take your bottom piece and fold the tabs along the crease lines, away from the pretty side.
2. Run a scraper tool along the creases to sharpen the folds.
3. Repeat Steps 1-2 for the pocket piece.
   
   
   
4. Take your first side piece and fold down from the top along the center crease line, toward the pretty side, until you get to the point where three lines meet.
   
   
   
5. Fold along the left diagonal crease line, toward the pretty side, from the meeting point down to the bottom edge.
6. Then fold the right diagonal crease line in the same way.
   
   
   
7. Use the scraper tool to sharpen all three folds, just along the crease lines.
   TIP: Work outward from the lines’ meeting point to make sure you don’t crease beyond the lines.
8. Fold the two tabs of the side piece along the crease lines, away from the pretty side.
   
   
   
9. Use your scraper tool to sharpen the folds.
10. Repeat Steps 4-9 for the other side piece.
11. Take one of the short belt straps and hold it horizontally.
12. Fold it in half along the vertical crease line.
13. Use your scraper to sharpen the fold.
    
    
    
14. Repeat Steps 11-13 for the other short belt strap.
15. If you cut the optional holly pieces, take one of the leaf pieces and fold upward along both of the crease lines to give your leaves dimension.
    
    
    
    NOTE: You can use your scraper tool to help fold the leaves if you like, but it’s not necessary to have sharp folds for this piece.
16. Repeat for the three remaining holly pieces.
    
    
    

GLUE THE SANTA PURSE PIECES TOGETHER

1. Lay the front piece of your purse pretty side up. The top edge should be slightly wider than the bottom edge.
   NOTE: The front and back pieces are the same, so you can use either.
2. Line up one of the long belt straps on top of your bag with the sides angled inward to match the shape of the purse.
   TIP: You’ll know your strap is in the right place when its left and right sides are flush with the sides of the purse and no color from the front piece is showing at the side edges.
3. Lift and flip the bottom of the belt strap over the top, so the strap rests just above the proper position on the purse.
4. Apply a line of craft glue around the inside edge of the belt strap.
   TIP: The precision tip on a bottle of Bearly Art glue works really well!
   
   
   
5. Flip the belt strap from the top down so that it is lined up properly on the purse.
6. Press along the edges to adhere the strap.
   TIP: Use a paper towel or finger to dab away any excess glue.
7. Lay the purse’s back piece beside the front piece in the same orientation, pretty side up, with the tops of both pieces aligned.
   TIP: You can overlap the top corners slightly to make sure the pieces are aligned.
8. Lay the second long belt strap face down in your work area.
9. Apply a thin line of craft glue around the inside edge of the strap.
10. Flip the strap over and position it on the purse’s back piece, aligning it with the strap on the front piece.
    
    
    
11. Press along the edges to adhere.
12. Now lay one of the purse’s side pieces beside the front piece, pretty side up, with the tops of both pieces aligned.
    TIP: Keep the side piece’s tabs folded under.
    NOTE: The top of the side piece has the center crease, not the diagonal creases.
13. Lay one of the short belt straps face down in your work area.
14. Apply a thin line of craft glue around the inside edges on the left half of the strap. Do the same for the right half.
    NOTE: This makes two box-shaped lines of glue, one on each half of the strap.
    
    
    
15. Flip the strap over and position it on the purse’s side, aligning its top with the top of the strap on the front piece.
16. Make sure the strap’s vertical crease is aligned with the side’s vertical crease, as well.
    
    
    
17. Press along the edges to adhere.
18. Repeat steps 12-17 to adhere the second short belt strap to the purse’s other side.
19. Allow all of the pieces to dry.
20. Test that the sides still fold along the vertical crease line, and make sure all of the straps are fully adhered.
21. If any spots on the straps aren’t sealed well, use the precision tip of your Bearly Art glue to apply more craft glue, press to re-seal the pieces, and then allow the glue to dry.
    NOTE: You want to be sure the straps’ edges are completely sealed or else they might get caught on something and pop off your gift bag!
22. Lay the purse’s front piece pretty side up and the buckle pretty side down.
23. Apply craft glue to the buckle’s back on all four sides.
24. Flip the buckle over and position it over the center of the purse’s front strap.
    
    
    
25. Press down to adhere, and allow the glue to dry.
    

ASSEMBLE THE SANTA PURSE BASE

1. Gather the bottom base piece, two side pieces, and the front and back pieces.
2. Place the base on your work surface, pretty side down, with the short sides on the left and right.
   
   
   
3. Place the purse’s two side pieces along the short sides of the base, pretty side down, with their bottom edges touching the base.
4. Place the purse’s front piece along the bottom side of the base, pretty side down, with its bottom edge touching the base.
5. Place the purse’s back piece along the top side of the base, pretty side down, with its bottom edge touching the base.
   
   
   
6. Fold in the left tab of the base piece so the pretty side is face up.
7. Apply craft glue to the tab.
   
   
   
8. Align the purse’s left side piece against the base’s left creased edge.
9. Flip the glued tab down onto the left side piece.
10. Press down along the entire tab to adhere.
11. Test to make sure the piece folds up along the creased tab.
12. Repeat Steps 6-11 to adhere the base’s right, front, and back tabs to the purse’s right, front, and back pieces.
    
    
    
13. Take your pocket piece and arrange it so the tabs are folded under, and the side without the tab is facing away from the base.
14. Apply craft glue to all three pocket tabs.
    
    
    
15. Center the pocket on the back of the purse’s front side (mine is at the bottom of my base).
16. Press along the edges of the tabs to adhere the pocket to the inside of the purse.
    
    
    
17. Allow the glue to dry with the base open, pretty side down.
18. Once the glue is dry, fold up the bottom tab of the left side piece.
19. Apply craft glue to the tab and fold the left side up.
    
    
    
20. Fold the front of the purse up to meet the glued tab, and align its edge with the folded crease of the side tab.
21. Press along the entire tab to adhere it to the inside of the purse.
    TIP: Rotate the purse so the front side is against your work surface and you can press the tab down from the inside, using your work surface to adhere it well.
22. Repeat steps 18-21 to adhere the bottom tab of the right side piece to the front of the purse.
23. Turn the purse so the back side is facing you, pretty side down on your work surface, and the front and sides of the purse are standing up.
24. Apply craft glue to the left and right side tabs.
25. Lower the back piece onto the side tabs to line up the edges, then flip the purse so the back is on your work surface.
26. Press along the tabs from the inside to adhere them to the purse’s back.
    
    
    

ATTACH THE SANTA PURSE HANDLES

1. Gather your eight handle pieces, and face the front side of the purse toward you.
2. Take the first handle piece and lay it pretty side down.
3. Apply craft glue to the bottom section of the rounded end of the handle piece.
4. Attach the handle piece to the purse’s top left corner. Make sure it’s oriented so the handle is straight up and perpendicular to the top of the purse.
   
   
   
   TIP: Use your long fur trim pattern piece to check that the end of the handle doesn’t stick out below the bottom edge of the trim.
5. Press and hold the handle piece in place until the glue is dry.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 to attach a handle piece to the purse’s top right corner.
   
   
   
7. Once the glue is dry and the handle pieces are securely attached to the purse, add craft glue to the very end of the shiny side of the right handle piece’s unattached end.
   NOTE: If you plan to attach anything to your bag handle, make sure to do that before gluing the handle pieces together in this step.
8. Bring the unattached ends of both handle pieces together shiny side up so they overlap by about 1”, with the glued end on the bottom.
   
   
   
   TIP: Keep the overlapping ends aligned. This will add a natural curve to your purse handle.
9. Press and hold the overlapping area together until the glue is dry.
10. Turn the purse so the back is facing toward you.
11. Take another handle piece with the pretty side down, and apply craft glue to the bottom section of its rounded end.
12. Attach the handle piece to the purse’s inside left corner, aligning its rounded end with the attached handle’s rounded end on the outside of the purse the best you can.
    
    
    
13. Press firmly to adhere the handle in place.
14. Apply craft glue to the rest of the handle piece’s plain side.
15. Carefully adhere the handle pieces back to back, starting from the bottom, keeping them lined up as you go.
16. Press and smooth from top to bottom to adhere the handle pieces to each other.
17. Repeat steps 11-16 to attach a handle piece to the purse’s inside right side. The ends of the four handle pieces will overlap each other in the center to make the finished handle nice and sturdy.
    
    
    
18. Once the entire front handle is in place, follow steps 2-17 to attach the second handle to the back of the purse.
    
    
    

ADD THE SANTA PURSE ACCENTS

1. To assemble your holly pieces, lay a leaf piece on your work surface with the leaves folded upward.
2. Apply a small amount of craft glue to the center area where the berry piece will go.
   
   
   
3. Align the berry piece over the berries in the center of the leaf piece.
4. Press down to adhere the berries to the leaves.
   NOTE: The berry piece is slightly larger than the berry area on the leaf piece to make alignment easier.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the three remaining leaf and berry pairs.
6. Plug in your hot glue gun to warm up and make sure your work area is protected.
7. Take your faux fur trim and place it pretty side down.
8. Lay the long cardstock trim pattern on top of the faux fur.
9. Use a dark colored pen to trace the edges of the pattern onto the fur trim.
   
   
   
10. Use sharp scissors to cut along the pen marks and create a long strip of faux fur trim with angled sides.
11. Pull away and discard any loose bits of fur from the strip.
12. Repeat steps 7-11 to cut another long strip of fur, then follow the same steps to cut two short strips of fur using the short cardstock trim pattern.
    
    
    
    NOTE: You will have two long strips of fur trim with angled ends, and two short strips of fur trim with straight ends.
13. Put on your finger caps to protect your fingers from hot glue.
14. Position one of the long fur trim strips along the top of the purse’s front side, making sure the angles match.
    NOTE: The wider edge of the strip should be at the top.
15. Add hot glue along the inner edge on the back of the fur strip.
16. Place the strip onto the top edge of the purse, pressing around the edges to adhere it well.
    TIP: Work quickly to keep the hot glue from setting before you press the edges.
    
    
    
17. If any spots don’t adhere well, add additional hot glue, then press the fur in place to re-seal.
18. Repeat steps 13-17 to adhere the second long strip of fur to the purse’s back side, then follow the same steps to attach the two short strips of faux fur to the purse’s two sides.
    
    
    
19. Cut away any bits of fur that might be clumped together with glue.
20. Next, add a small dot of hot glue to the back of a holly piece and attach it to your purse. Then repeat for the other three holly pieces.
    NOTE: I’ll attach mine to the top corners on the front and back of my purse.
    
    
    
21. Place the optional cardstock reinforcement panel in the bottom of your purse for extra sturdiness.
    
    
    

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF

You now have a cute Santa-themed purse that makes the perfect gift bag!