Weekender Handbag and Bright Eyes | Concord & 9th Feature Friday

I am SO EXCITED to guest design for Concord & 9th for their December release…and guess what? Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more projects from the new release, so…check back often! As for today’s post…there’s tons to share…so let’s get started! First…a look at this week’s featured products.

Concord & 9th has once again collaborated with Becky Roberts of Inking Idaho to bring to life another AMAZING purse…the Weekender Handbag! This bag is so super fun and easy to build…and I promise you won’t want to stop! Once you’ve cut and assembled this gorgeous bag, you’re ready to start adding the rest of the pieces. The die set includes handle pieces, a strap and a buckle to use as a closure…and other embellishments, too, including a heart, a key, a lock and a banner sentiment. Using any combination of these trinkets makes each bag special and unique. And of course…there’s a stamp set, too! This little set includes several phrases that fit right in the banner die…and there are shapes and letters perfect for creating your own designer look handbag.

Now…as if that fabulous bag isn’t exciting enough…this week we’re also featuring the Bright Eyes Bundle! The Bright Eyes die set creates an adorable little pair of glasses…regular glasses or sunglasses! They’re perfect for card fronts…and they’re the cutest ever accessory for the brand new Weekender Handbag! Hanging them on the bag’s front is just the perfect finishing touch! And the coordinating stamp set…well, it’s chock full of feel good sentiments you’ll use over and over!

The moment I first saw the Weekender Handbag I knew I wanted to make a Santa bag…and fill it with matching tags! I started by cutting the main piece and the side panels in Poppy cardstock to create the bag’s body. I then cut and added contrasting white pieces…and black handles. I also cut the strap in black…added it to the buckle cut in Wheat…and attached them both to the bag using Mini Velcro Dots. Seriously…it was that easy!

The tags were just as simple, too! I cut tags in Poppy cardstock…belts in black…and buckles in Wheat…and put them all together to create Santa tags in no time! I added black rhinestone “buttons” and tied on white baker’s twine, too. I’ll add them to the Santa bag for a fun gift for someone special.

For this next Weekender Bag I wanted to use one color and a bit of embossing to create something that would look and feel like embossed leather. I think it worked perfectly! I chose to use Stardust cardstock and ink and kept it all simple. First, I cut the bag’s body, side panels, handles and embellishments…all in Stardust. Before I assembled the bag I embossed it’s front with the small snowflake from the Snow Flurry Dies. I also cut the same snowflake in Stardust and placed it over the embossed image. I then assembled the bag… stamped the sentiment banner and attached it at the bag’s handle…and added a simple frosted rhinestone from my stash. I think it’s my favorite bag so far!

As much as I LOVE creating these bags…I’m also pretty smitten with the Bright Eyes Bundle…and I chose to make a pair of clean and simple cards to share. For this first card I started by cutting the glasses frames in Parsley, Buttercup and Honeysuckle…and placing them randomly on a white card panel. I then stamped the hello sunshine sentiment in black on a small, white rectangle and placed it under the frames. Finally…I added a few black enamels and added the panel to the card base.

For the second card I stamped the sentiment in black on a white card panel…and then cut and added a pair of glasses (arms included) in black and a star from the Tall Type Tagalong Dies in Buttercup. I added clear rhinestones…and placed the panel on a Sea Glass card base. Both cards…so simple, and fun!

I seriously hope you’re as excited about these amazing new products as I am…and I’m in good company, too! This month’s guest designers have created a little hop to help you see all of the great projects so much easier! Check it out!