Folded Seedman’s Purse

From Julie Loeschke

 

It’s finally springtime and thoughts naturally turn to …..gardening!  But after the garden is planted, what to do with those left over seeds?  You could stash them in a drawer OR you could create an interesting and creative container for them.

This week’s Inspire project is a variation of the traditional origami container called the “Seedman’s Purse”.  It can be used to store those extra seeds, as a clever storage place for all of those stray “bits and bobs” on your art table or a delightful gift filled with pretty tags and labels for a friend or loved one.
Let’s get started by choosing our 12″x12″ paper and deciding which side we want to be on the outside.  We’ll call that the right side during construction.

 

Directions:
Step 1: With your paper right side up, fold in half vertically.  Crease.

 

Step 2: Open out and turn wrong side up.  Fold the right edge to the center crease.  Crease.  Repeat with the left edge.(photo 1).

 

 

 

Step 3: Open out, wrong side facing you.  Fold top corner to opposite bottom corner to create a diagonal fold.  Crease.  Open out and repeat with the remaining two corners.  Do not open.(photo 2).

 

Step4: Position the triangle with the fold next to you and the open points at the top.  Looking at the bottom corners, you will see a crease made in a prior step, close to one of the corners.  Fold this point to the back on this line.  Turn the triangle over and repeat on the other corner. (photo 3).

 

 

Step5: Open the paper out and refold on the first diagonal fold and repeat step 4.  (photo 4).

 

 

Step6: Open the paper all the way out.  Look at the corners.  Reverse fold the creases in each of the four corners.(photo 5).

 

 

Step 7: After all the corners are folded and on the inside, grasp the structure at the middle and bring the original center creases to meet in the center.  Holding in this position, lay the purse flat, and collapse and smooth it into the finished shape. (photo7)(photo8).

 

 

Step 8: Cut a “lid” from contrasting paper.  Mine was 6″x3″.  Fold in half to 6″ x 1 ½ “.  The lid encloses the top of the purse to prevent the contents from spilling out.  Decorate as desired.

 

Step 9: Attach the lid with your choice of clips or with lid in place, punch holes through all layers.  Thread ribbon through and tie in a bow.

 

Step 10: Embellish purse as desired and attach decorated tags if you wish.  If you do choose to store seeds in you purse, you may want to make mini versions from baking parchment paper to keep inside the purse.  Mine started with 6″x6″ squares.  No need to make a lid for these, just fill, fold over and staple. I hope you all have fun with this project and if you have any questions, please let me know.

 

 

Enjoy spring wherever you are!

Julie

 

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