Boy do I have the EASIEST and THRIFTIEST tutorial in store for you today!
Have any of you lovely people (I’d say ladies…but I’m not sure if any dudes read my blog) ever seen these A-MAZ-ING camera purses by JoTotes or Epiphanie?
One thing I LOVE about the camera purse bags (especially the homemade ones) is that they don’t advertise: “Hi I’m carrying an expensive camera, please come rob me!”
They are incredible. I have wanted one for YEARS! But…with this economy, budgets etc. etc. Having a camera purse that ranges from 120-180 bucks is just plain out of the question for me! I definitely do splurge on some things, but I just couldn’t justify it. Not when there were a million tutorials out there on how to sew one.
But let’s be realistic here. You mean to tell me I would have to measure, cut foam AND sew…not gonna happen any time soon. So I kept the thought in the back of my mind of how I could get my little hands on a bag like this…without breaking the bank! Then the night before my awesome photography workshop with Kristen Duke (you can read all about my experience here.) it came to me! Why not use what I have on hand! Even if you had to buy the supplies you’re looking at spending less than 75$!
Supplies:
Seam Ripper
Scissors
Purse (medium or large depending on your case)
Cannon Rebel Kit Case (find it on amazon for a little over 30 bucks)
Small Camera Case (that will fit your camera, found mine at walmart for about 15 bucks)
I will show you how to make BOTH below!
For the larger bag:
The purse I used was from a boutique. The inner middle pocket had a fat hole in it. I just took my scissors and cut the middle right out. Freeing up lots of room for my case!
I numbered the order that I removed things. Basically you just want a shell of the actual case. None of the extra junk on it that makes it too bulky!
Anywhere that I could find a seam that I knew would NOT compromise one that I wanted to keep in tact, I would just whip out my nifty seem ripper and go to work!
It takes some concentration, but it goes by pretty quick!
Once you get a seam started if you pull at it from both sides as seen below it will really start to come lose. Anywhere it sticks you just use your seam ripper and continue pulling. (I really wouldn’t pull too hard though)
This is what my bare case looks like. I left the three pockets in the front and the zipper in the back for things like my planner, keys, wallet etc. They all fit perfectly in there!
My purse even zips keeping the precious cargo even more secret!
OK for the smaller bag:
I found this little guy at walmart. Let me tell you a story about him. On our first Disney Cruise as a family (with PJ) we took this bag instead because I thought it would be more subtle. It still screams CAMERA BAG though! Well, while we were in an elevator in walked DONALD and DAISY DUCK! PJ’s favorite characters. Both of them. Together. That stupid clasp was closed and it was zipped. By the time I got my camera out of Fort Knox they were already done doting on my little man. Ugh! Needless to say this bag and me aren’t very good friends. It was time to show it who is boss.
Find an obvious seam and start there. A lot of times they open up other seams to things you want to get rid of.
This is about when my cute little boy realized that if he pushes the button on my camera it makes it beep AND a flash goes off. (Don’t worry I was there the whole time).
Just seem rip everywhere you want OFF of your bag.
Now, here’s the deal with the scissors. Anytime you are nervous that by seam ripping you may compromise your seam stop right there! Get your scissors and cut whatever it is right there. If you cut super close, you can barely tell anything was even there! And besides…it’s going inside your bag anyways. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
I used scissors to cut off the zippers on both bags. Don’t use your nice fabric scissors ok?
This is the smaller bag inside of my everyday purse. It left SO much room! I kept the top part on this bag since other things would be going in my purse to add more protection.I also kept the side pockets and front zipper for a camera battery or other things.
I’ve listed all of the other things that were in my purse at that time.
I still had PLENTY of room to spare as well!
So there you have it. A fun everyday camera purse that doesn’t scream: “CAMERA!”
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! It was so easy and it went super fast and now I have cute camera purses that I didn’t have to sew! Woot!
Please remember that all of my tutorials and printables are for personal use only. This post was seen first at, and written by Cox’s Corner
Linking up to these awesome parties!
Welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy your stay.
stopping by from Tip Junkie…thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks for stoping by!
What would you think about making one of these for a pro photographer to try out if said photographer took pictures, or had pictures taken, and/or wrote a review……??????
Shill, I'd be happy to make you one but you wouldn't have to do anything with it. It was really easy and took me only about 30 minutes! What made it doable was that I had everything on hand! But if you could help with supply costs (ie bag and purse) I'd so do it for you! OR if you have a purse at home and kit case we could figure something out! Just Leyden me know!
Stupid auto correct! I meant to say let me know!
You had me at absolutely no sew. Thanks for the tutorial.
I know right?! Glad that I could help!
Great idea! Now I just have to find me a camera bag. Becoming a Follower because you have my maiden name. enJOYed your blog!
Thank you! It's a real JOY having you as a follower!
if you go to the camera section in Walmart they have bags that will fit most cameras! Reasonably priced too!
Now that is one clever project and I love that it's no sew!! Nice job!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
What a cool idea! LOVE it
. 
thanks so much for coming to visit and for your sweet comment on my forest creatures diy. got me to visit you. i like it here and am following you now with gfc. i would be honored if you would like to follow back but no hard feelings if not
love
jutta
Thank you! Of course I'll follow you back! We could be blog buddies!
Wow! Great job making the camera purses extremely functional while still being oh so pretty. I love that they don't scream CAMERA INSIDE
I'd love for you to link this post to my Finished Friday blog party.
Thank you! I'm very happy with how they turned out!
I'd love to join your party! Thanks for the invite!
Amazing! That turned out so cute! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning to our Pomp Party board!
Jill @ Create.Craft.Love.
Yay! Thank you so very much!
I love it, i love it. I'm going g to do one!
Thanks! Let me know how it goes!
Wow, this is just what I needed.(pinning it)
Thank you so much, I'll be making one soon. It will be a small vacation project:)
Have a great Saturday.
Annika
Thank you! You'll have to let me know how it turns out!
This looks like a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing this. I might have to make something like this for one of my sisters. I'm so glad you linked up at Romance on a dime. I'm pinning this!!
It is so simple! Let me know if you do!
What a clever idea! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by!
We love this tutorial! Thanks for sharing this great idea. We appreciate you linking up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. We hope you'll be back soon! -The Sisters
Thank you so much! You bet I will!
This looks great! Thank you for sharing with us on Saturday Show and Tell. I hope you'll join us again this week!
-Mackenzie
http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com
Thank you! I totally already did!
I love this, what a great idea!! You have been featured at Showcase Your Talent Thursday!! http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/2012/07/showcase-your-talent-thursday-15.html
That's so awesome! Thank you so much!
Very clever!!
(Ps thanks for linking up to Best in Blog; sorry it took so loing to stop by, it's been school holidays here and computer time has been in short supply!) Oh, and a new Best in Blog linky opens tomorrow xx)
Thank you! I totally understand about being busy! No worries!
I have listed your posting as one of my featured links for this week on my Friday Favorite Blog Links
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/09/caramel-apple-martinis-for-fridays.html
Visit my blog to grab your featured blogger button.
Sincerely,
Debi Bolocofsky
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
This is one of those moments “why didn’t I think of that?”
I think we all have those!