Photo Craft Idea: Pet Purses

Looking for photo craft ideas? If you love creative sewing projects with a personal twist, this one’s for you! I created two unique pet purses featuring kaleidoscope images of beloved furry friends. This post walks you through how I transformed pet photos into kaleidoscope designs and then turned them into one-of-a-kind handmade purses — one clean and modern, the other grungy and artistic. It’s a fun idea for anyone who loves quilting, collage, or a good DIY fabric project.

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Behind-the-Scenes: It Starts with the Pet Photos

For my second project for Quilting Arts TV and the Kaleidoscope Kreator, I was asked to create a project that used kaleidoscope images of pets.  I don’t have any pets, so I had to borrow two:

Charlie is my brother’s girlfriend’s dog.  The cat belongs to Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero – inventor of the Kaleidoscope Kreator.

I turned both pet photos into kaleidoscope images using the Kaleidoscope Kreator software…

…and then I began brainstorming about what to do with these beautiful images.

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What I Made – My Photo Craft Idea!

I made two purses — one with simple clean lines and one that has a grungier more artsy feel.

The cat bag is more of my personal style.  And I’ve had fun wearing it around town!

The base of the bag is an old paint rag.  And the cat was done using a gel medium transfer technique.

I really like the distressed and interrupted image that comes from an image transfer, don’t you?  And the back of the purse is pretty funky and fun too!

I feel like most people will be drawn to the simple and clean kaleidoscope of Charlie.  It’s modern and graphic and surprising. You don’t realize it’s a dog until you get up close and see it.

I lined the inside with some very bright and funky fabric.

I’m looking forward to gifting it to my brother’s girlfriend.  I hope she’ll enjoy carrying her favorite friend around with her!

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Charlie Pet Purse Instructions

If you’d like to make a simple purse, like the Charlie purse seen above, follow these step-by-step instructions.

Supplies:

• Kaleidoscope Kreator Software
• PC Computer – the software only works with PC
• Ink Jet Printer
• Ink Jet printable fabric
• Rotary Cutter
• Fabric for lining, strap, and back
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Iron/Ironing Board

Instructions:

1. Open a photo of your pet in the Kaleidoscope Kreator software.
2. Use one of the square templates to create a square kaleidoscope.  You can manipulate your photo by turning, flipping, and resizing it to get many different kaleidoscopes from the single photo.  Easy to follow video instructions and downloadable .pdf instructions, with pictures, are available on the Kaleidoscope Kreator website.
3. Print at 7×7”.  Remove backing paper.
4. Cut excess fabric away from printed kaleidoscope, leaving a small border.   The square should be approximately 8×8”.
5. Cut three 8×8” squares from regular fabric.
6. Place the kaleidoscope and one fabric square right sides together and stitch around three of the sides.  This is your outside.
7. Repeat with the remaining two squares.  This is your lining.
8. Cut a strip of fabric (the length that you want for your strap) and about 3 inches wide.
9. Iron the long strip in half lengthwise.
10. Unfold and fold edges in so that they meet at the iron mark.  Iron.
11. Fold at original iron mark and iron.
12. Stitch along the open edge and your strap is complete!
13. Turn lining inside out and place around the outside (right sides facing). 
14. Place strap in between lining and outside.  Pin in place.
15. Stitch around the top, leaving a small gap.
16. Turn the purse right side out through gap and then stitch the gap closed.

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Wrapping Up

I have to admit that I was pretty nervous when I was assigned a pet project.  But I’m so glad I took on this photo craft idea challenge — turning pets into kaleidoscope art led to two completely different but equally fun purses. Whether you prefer clean lines or a grungy, mixed-media look, this project shows just how versatile DIY pet purses can be. If you’re inspired to try it yourself, experiment with your own pet photos and fabric textures — and don’t forget to share your results! For more creative quilting, collage, and sewing tutorials, explore the archives here on blog.balzerdesigns.com.

Have a great weekend everyone!