Adorable purses!! Fun project. I would have thought the plastic mesh would hold up pretty well. Menards has a by the sheet plastic that is very flexible.

Yeah, almost asked her if she's carrying around cannonballs or something?!

What about something like this?

ABS plastic sheets

https://www.amazon.com/Zuvas-Flexible-Plexiglass-Materials-Handcrafts/dp/B08R9W4NZW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=PNDP8JGXLL9L&keywords=sheet+of+plastic+hard&qid=1675383521&sprefix=sheet+of+plastic%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-3

That is looking promising. Shatterproof and flexible? And you can use heat to form a shape... Hmm.

One thing I do know, give it to child to test it if I'm ever going to sell these things. Which I doubt I ever will. It's just too much fun.

I've made a lot of bags and there are many options depending on how firm you like it. Fusible foam like what is used in Vera Bradley bags (there are several brands) - Pellon flex foam, by Annie soft & stable, etc. Fusible fleece , like Thermolam, Decovil light or heavy (Pellon 525 0r 526). You might have to experiment to see what kind of firmness you prefer.

Super stiff! They're terrible when they're floppy

...for this particular application. I think that Carol is closest to what I'm looking for. I had one I made from fabric I totally fell in love with (actually bought something for once. Revisited it at least a couple of times), and it is so wrinkled I hate it.

If this plastic works for my child's purse, I'm totally going to remake the purse by ripping it apart and resewing it with this.

Just brainstorming, trying to think what I might have on hand that would work. Have you seen the thin rollable flexible cutting boards that have been out for a few years? They come in all price ranges, all colors - I bought a few for my SIL to keep on her boat, she seems to do a lot of prepping and cooking there and they take up no space.

I have some myself but rarely use them, I pull out the old faithfuls first and those that don't flop over in the dishwasher.

Example Ace Hardware

I wonder how window screening replacement might work. Hardware stores sell it by the yard. I think most is a poly material these days not metal and you could probably sew it in like lining material. It wouldn't add much stiffness, but strength....

I had a purse that lasted for years but finally died. I took it apart for pieces and found cardboard inside as the stiffener. I've also used cardboard in a bonnet to hold up the brim.

I was thinking of cardboard as well.

I'm not envisioning how the canvas is disintegrating. What about using the plastic pocket folders? Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Plastic Folders with 2 Pockets for Letter Size Paper came up in my Amazon search. They might bend, but I don't think they would come apart.

I exaggerated?

It broke in to many pieces. Better?

maybe the covers from ”heavy duty”, plastic covered, 3 ring binders would work?

perhaps the plastic canvas 'broke into many pieces' because it is full of holes? The cutting boards, I've seen them at the dollar store, or plastic folders would hold up better as they are smooth.

The heart buttons must have taken a lot of time to hand sew.

How about those cheap flexible kitchen cutting mats?

3ring binders are cardboard covered in plastic.......Chances are these purses are getting stepped on at school. That would snap the plastic mesh very quickly. Check out a big box home improvement back by the wood sheet goods.

They do make pellon in different stiffnesses...maybe a stiff pellon. I also thought of cardboard though you wouldn't want it to get wet...

I just saw a package of those thin cutting sheets at Dollar Tree. Maybe buy one and see how it hold up to repeated bending back and forth before it snaps in half? Or what about heavy canvas fabric like used on porch awnings?

Plastic shelf liners are smooth and stiff. The kind used on metal grid shelving. A* zon has them...

I think arcy is on to something...my first thought was a 3 ring binder....a floppy one. $1.79 @ Safeway Grocery store. I purchased one last week .....office supplies would be where I'd look to make THIS happen. Cute project Rob ❣️

@kathyg_in_mi...still using my snap bag.....thank you ❣️

Why not buy the product made for this application? Buckram is one.

https://www.onlinefabricstore.com/makersmill/buckram-product-guide/

Search ”purse stiffener” for many options.

Is there buckram that's stiff or thick enough?

Thinking it may have the same drawbacks as cardboard.

How is the purse being used that the mesh broke down so much? If the purse is being too filled, you might need a bigger one. If it's being bent up a lot, buckram or cardboard might not survive, and plastic sheets or cutting boards might hold the bending and get deformed.

Doubled heavy canvas or denim, or heavier weights of leather might work.

Buckram was my first thought, and if you think it is not stiff enough, you could use two layers. It is not brittle and should survive well, but it will soften a bit if it gets wet. You can iron it with a dry iron to get the shape back.

I have a small amount of it in storage from previous projects.

Hey y'all!

Just now back. Loads of great ideas. I think she likes to load it down and abuse it. But that's ok, it means it's well loved. I am going to try to use the three ring notebook idea first. I have spare notebooks, for free and I think they'll be sturdy enough.

In other instances, I'm likely to use buckram. But she needs IRON

Haha - maybe she needs a bigger purse?

She'd just add another cannonball 🙄

Line with heavy broadcloth or upholstery fabric. It is stiff, durable and available in my colors. I make lots of this bags. Cute purses.

Quilt shops should have something you can use for bags. It needs to be stiff but flexible at the same time. Something too stiff will crack and break.

This one time, it needs to be beyond stiff. With a fabric cover. She loves the fabric she picked. I have to say I really detest this particular pattern without something stiffer than fabric. Buckram might work, but any other fabric, and they just don't have the right shape. Man, the internet will not do it justice. It has sparkles on it. And it's richly colored. Here's what she picked. It's the galaxy

Maybe vinyl placemats would work. There are the stiff flat vinyl ones and others that are more like a stiff foam.

Something like the foam in mousepads. Mouse pads aren't big enough, of course.

Some of the better quality flooring under layments are a nice thin foam. I have a partial roll that I bought at a rummage sale. Keep an eye out for soft sided luggage/ travel items/ portfolios at garage sales that could yield suitable material.

Thank you! She's very happy.

It took me this long to make the "notebook" version because I also bought purse feet. They came this morning. When I told her it should last through the next time she beat somebody with the purse, she just laughed! I cannot imagine what she did to break it in so many pieces?

She says she missed it and is glad to have it back.

Great brainstorming! Let's see how long galaxyPurse.V2 lasts.

Check out the Wawak catalog online