DIY Network

Paper Desk Blotters and Bags Laminate cool papers to make blotters and bags. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-134

Michele Beschen finds even more ways to use cool papers in your décor! In these projects, she makes the papers almost indestructible by sheathing them in contact paper, then creating desk blotters and tote bags that show off the best of your style.

Scroll down for the how-to, and get ready to B. Original with paper.

Create this classy desk blotter...

Or a tote that shows your sense of humor.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Desk Blotter

• Select a beautiful sheet of paper from your favorite paper store or online. Michele Beschen used an Italian paper for this project.

• Cut out two pieces of contact paper slightly larger than the decorative paper you chose. Peel the backing from one sheet and lay it, sticky side up, on a flat work surface.

• Holding the decorative paper by the edges, let it bow down into a U shape. Touch the lowest part of the U to the center of the contact paper, then gently lower sides of the paper, letting it roll evenly onto the sticky contact paper
  (figure A).

• Remove the paper backing from the second sheet of contact paper and hold it by the edges, sticky side down, over the work surface. Let it bow down into a U and apply it to the decorative paper using the same technique as in the previous step.

• Trim off the excess contact paper (figure B).

• Instead of having a plain back on the blotter, try using contact paper printed with a wood grain design for the back side of the piece.

• Once the blotter is laminated and trimmed, use a sewing machine to stitch around the edges with a decorative zig-zag stitch.

	Figure C
	Figure D

Comics Tote Bag

• Laminate several sheets of the newspaper comics between sheets of clear contact paper using the same technique as for the blotter.

• You can create any size of bag you want; sketch out your ideas and measurements to determine cutting dimensions.

• The bag design is a simple box shape. Cut two pieces the same size for the front and back, two the same size for the sides, and one piece for the bottom (sized to fit the other pieces).

• All sewing in this project uses a sewing machine and a decorative zig-zag stitch. Sew wrong sides together so that the seam lies on the outside of the bag.

• Sew the bag's bottom to the front and back panels (figure C). Pay attention to which way is "up" on the comic sheets; you don't want to have half of the bag read upside-down.

• Lay the stitched section out lengthwise and sew the side panels to the front and back. Keep paying attention to which way is up on the bag.

• Sew the side panels to the bottom.

• Insert a piece of thin hardware chain through clear acrylic tubing (figure D). This is the bag's handle; trim it to the length desired.

• Use a grommet maker to make and reinforce holes for the handle. Attach the handle chain to the grommets with jump rings. You can also use rope and sticks as handles.