Purse Making Party for 13 year old B-day party

[mforbach]

My DD is turning 13 next month and would like to have a purse making party. We have looked online and can't find anyone who does this. We don't want a purse party where you buy the purse. More like a party where the girls get to add decoration and handles. I found a company in MA but we live in MO. Any ideas on how to find someone who does this kind of party. It could be in home or at a store. Thanks.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Yes we have this in MA but it's nothing that I would do for a child's bday party...it's just too expensive. I've done this with girlfriends a couple of times and the cheapest purses run in the $60 range. I would recommend going to a craft store and getting the individual pieces to make a purse. Way cheaper and more geared toward a 13 year old. Plus the girls can take home the purse that night. The purse parties here, you pick out the elements and then a month later the purse comes in!

 

[java]

I know there is a "house party" type of purse making thing- where you pick handles and fabric but it $$

What type of bags are they interested in making?
I was a prep from way back when - and they used to sell those handles and different colored "bags" to button on.

Sounds fun but $$$$.

 

[woodkins]

For my niece's 12th bday party she wanted to do a purse type party but ran into the same type of issues...cost and availability. Instead we had each girl make their own jewelry box. We bought unpainted wooden jewelry boxes at Michaels craft store and got rhinestones, marabou feathers, stickers, etc. The girls painted their boxes and after they were dry they glued the stones, stickers etc. We also bought a bunch of teen magazines (bop, teen beat etc) and the girls decopauged the pictures from the magazines onto the boxes using modge podge. They came out adorable and some of the girls had their friends sign the boxes as a keepsake memory. We also bought letter beads and crystals and had them each make a bracelet to put in their jewelry box.

 

[squirrlygirl]

My aunt makes purses with old hardcover books . HGtv has some pretty detailed instructions on their website, though I bet it could be simplified for the girls.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

My 5th grader's girl scout troop just made the cutest purses from old blue jeans and cordoroy pants. The only "catch" is someone needs a sewing machine, but the sewing is very easy. You cut the pants right where the crotch starts and sew a straight line. The top of the pants are the top of the purse. You also sew ribbon for a handle and then let the kids decorate with ribbons, etc. One of the mom's brought a Big-bite and let the kids put rivets on theirs.

With all the embroidery on jeans, these were so cute. And then the girls would use small ribbons and tie onto all the belt loops. Of course the size of the purse is dependent on the size of the jeans -- most girls had kid size 12. But my daughter used a pair of toddler overalls (old navy crushed velvet) -- too cute!

I wish I had pictures because they were so cute and something I would use for summer. They were "cool" not dorky. I looked on-line and found a few sites which are below, but I will tell you ours were cuter!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2091178_purse-out-kids-jeans-pants.html

http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/549608326tUGjbr

Have fun at the party!

 

[lspst8]

I haven't been to a party like that, but I did build-my-own purse at a store in Philadelphia once (it was called Viv Pickle). It was not cheap --- at least $50 for a tiny 5'x10'x2' purse with only the basic fabrics .... and you had to pay more for fancy fabric and pockets, etc...

But I think it would be pretty fun, if you bough some basic purses or tote bags and had all kinds of things for the girls to decorate them with. Sequins, and beads, and fabric paint... that kind of stuff. I've always been pretty crafty, so I would have loved that when I was 13 (OK, I would still love it!) I've seen basic tote bags pretty cheap at grocery stores for the bring-your-own bag. I would have a good walk around Jo-Ann or Michaels. I know our Jo-Ann has classes for kids too, and they do birthday parties. You might want to look into that. Or paint your own pottery place. We have one in my town, and it is so much fun and not too expensive. I actually threw a paint your own pottery bachelorette party once, and everyone really enjoyed it.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

Have you thought about making a purse out of duck tape, I did this last week at a workshop that was geared for teens.http://www.ducktapeclub.com/ducktivities/projects/purse.asp

I had so much fun making them I decided to put it into our teen summer programs. The website shows different things you can make with the tape and the colors they offer now are great.

 

[mforbach]

Thanks for all the great ideas. My dd wanted a party where the girls actually took something with them instead of party favors. I had thought about making purses or even a piexe of jewelry. The jewelry boxrs are a great idea also.

 

[java]

Thanks for all the great ideas. My dd wanted a party where the girls actually took something with them instead of party favors. I had thought about making purses or even a piexe of jewelry. The jewelry boxrs are a great idea also.

On the piece of jewelry- We have a local Bead store. And they host parties where the girls pick out beads and charms to make necklaces or whatever you choose. DD did that last year and LOVED it. Search for Beading places in your area. It wasn't too expensive either. We met at a local pizza shop then walked over to the bead place.
DD had a great time and everyone walked out with a nice piece of jewelry.

(that is if you don't want it at your house) Or you could make the boxes(LOVE the decopage idea with the teen beats! I'm stealing that one!!) then just make earrings--relatively easy to make. As long as you have the proper supplies.