I do not know if this has been mentioned before or not. I was trying to think of something cheap to put in the bottom of the purses that would not "melt" if it got wet.

I went to Lowe's and bought plexiglass. For a 18x24 piece it was $8 and they will cut it to size for you. I got 8 bottoms out of that 1 sheet. They are 4 1/2 x 12 for the mini bow tucks.

Just thought I would share!!!

Thanks for info!

great idea and thanks for sharing with us!

Nice to know, still working up the courage to try this one.

Thank you for sharing this with us :D:D:D

Thanks so very much for this suggestion. I just finished my second one. I used 2 layers of plastic canvas that I covered with the lining fabric on my first one. Not as rigid as I'd like but figured at least it's washable. I will sure try your plexiglass idea though. Great idea.

You are welcome! I get so many great tips from this board thought I would share one myself.

Good idea. Is that heavy, though ?

Great tip!!

i use the plasctic corregated for sale, or political signs. i cut them up to the size needed. and make them removable. i usually just staple the fabric around them..

never thought of using plexiglass!

Hey, what a great idea! I have a political sign leaning against my house, and now I know what to do to get rid of it. (It's a sign for a candidate who lost in the Primary Election so not needed anymore.)

I use corrugated plastic, too. I buy mine from a sign shop for $2 a sheet, and get several uses out of them. It's lightweight and sturdy. I just make a sleeve out of the lining fabric for it. It's great stuff!

yes, lol! i am NOT stealing them from houses!

No it is not heavy.

Great idea!

I do wood working also. I use Luan, a type of plywood that is very thin (1/4th inch). I cut it with my jigsaw, sand the edges and "pillowcase" it with fabric. I put a small dot of velcro on the open end for washing. It is very sturdy and lightweight. If you ask at home improvement stores they sometimes have scrap pcs at a markdown price. I have been know to plead an gotten them to cut it into the smaller pcs I needed for free.

After I made about my fifth bag, I figured out that if I used a washable piece of plastic canvas as a bottom support, I didn't need to put it in a removable sleeve. Instead, I put the plastic canvas between the outer bag and the lining. No extra step of making a sleeve! One layer of plastic canvas seems to work just fine -- the quilted lining helps add support. Here are pictures of a finished bag, both outside and inside views.

Bow tucks are fun to make. And easy. So easy, in fact, that I made the next two without rereading the pattern. (they call that hubris) :oops: :roll: Went out-of-order putting peices together and learned reading the pattern is good. :?

I buy square linoleum tiles (usually 12" but you can get bigger ones) from Home Depot or Lowes. Can be as cheap as 79 cents each. Some are more stiff than others, but you would be able to tell which you like.

Pretty easy to cut to size using a straight edge (hmmmm quilt ruler) and a utility knife. They have just the right amount of flexibility.

I went to the Dollar Tree and bought the cutting mats that you use in the kitchen for only $1.00. I use 2 pieces and it seems to hold up ok.

I plan to try the idea of using the place& press flexible floor tiles. Have seen in the past, offered at local discounters, as cheap as.10-.29 each, buyout/closeout. leave the paper on, enclose in fabric sleeve! I think plexi would crack or wear out the corners- I always put too much in my purse! LOL!!

I just finished my first bow tuck and wow I wish I'd seen all of these ideas first. The plexi idea is about the same as the pricey ones they sell at the quilt shops--just be sure to sand the edges so they are smooth and rounded corners and it sounds like a really good (cheap) solution. You gals always amaze me at your creativity. thanks