I have used both plastic canvas and foam board from the Dollar store. I think I prefer the foam board. It is more rigid.

I cut foam core from the craft store and cover it with matching fabric. If it breaks down, it's cheap enough to cut another one.

I use foam core board and make a cover to match the bottom of the purse. ♥

I always use Timtex and it works well. Sometimes it is hard to find locally so I have to go to the internet to get it.

I use plastic canvas.

Plastic Canvas.

Plastic Canvas.

I use the "vote for me" signs that are left in my yard. They are coroplast.

I had some foam board left over from organizing my fabric and it happened I needed a bottom. So I cut a piece of it and made a fabric sleeve to match the purse and it works super!

I don't personally make many bags. My friend Lenny does a lot of
embroidered and quilted shoulder bags and totes. Her husband cuts balsa (spelling?) wood - like you would use for model projects. I love to use those bags especially because they are stable and you can really load them up. I guess it depends on how hard their usage will be. M.E.

Old used cutting mats work well too...

I use Foam Board - you can find it by the poster board at Walmart. It is easy to cut and it makes a nice stable bottom.

I have used food chopping mats that are flexible. I usually buy the thin ones that have 4 per package in different colors. The cut easy with scissors and are very cheap.

My Dollar Store has form boards The kind a kid would use for a school project. They are HUGE & you can cut it to size. I use it for all my bag bottoms...very cost effective...

I use the plastic mesh that you buy at Wal Mart used for needlepoint. It comes in sheets, is easy to cut with rotary or scissors, you may sew over it and I have instructions (somewhere) for making a pocket (with the fab) for the bottom and I just slip the plastic piece in the pocket, stitch the ends and it is done. Washable etc.

i used an old cutting mat that was way past shot.. it worked great

I fuse 2 pieces of timtex together then fuse fabric to both sides and surge or zig zag arount it. if it gets floppy, just iron it. you can wash it to. another suggestion is the plastic canvas the you can do needlepoint on, you know the big stuff to make things out of.

I use a poster board (it kind of has a foam center and is a little less than 1/4 inch deep) that I buy at Walmart and cut it to size with an exacto knife. It's sturdy, cheap and it makes several bottoms. I then make a sleeve to put over it that matches the bag.

I have actually used the old plastic binders from my kids... easy to cut to size, water resistant and better than throwing them out!

sign shops sell corplast. it's like corrogated cardboard only plastic, sometimes you can get misprinted signs for little. but the last time i bought a full sheet 4'x8', it was only 25$

I use plastic canvas. Sometimes one or two layers depending on the size of the purse.I cover it with fabric. I have even forgotten and run it thru the washer and dryer and it was fine

I've used painter's canvas found at your craft stores like Michael's. Cut it with a saw to what ever size you need.

I use artist canvas (used to paint on) cut to size and make a sleeve for it. Nice & firm.

I found sheets of what looks like cardboard but its plastic in the craft aisles at HobbyLobby type stores-and I use it for Q/patterns too I wait for a coupon sale and grab it then then its 2for1 I never thought to look at JoAnns for it cause I found their prices on craft stuff higher even w/coupon Oh if you have a Michaels near by they have it also

I made about a dozen of them a couple of years ago for gifts.
I did what one of our gals in our quilt guild did. She went to
Walmart and bought a plastic (vinyl or whatever) place mat.
You can cut them easily. If they get wet, won't ruin them
vs. what a paper product would do. I made an 'envelope'
out of fabric slid in the cut piece of mat, and folded under the
open end and put it in. If you ever want to launder the purse
you can take it out. I also do that for totes, etc. I thought
she was pretty clever to think of that.

I use 2 pieces of heavyweight cardboard - the kind that is corrugated, but less than moving boxes,= smaller corrugations.
Then, I cover it with fabric and and stick it in the bottom of the bag. Works well, and it's cheap.

I cut up the plastic beading mats (the ones with the holes in them) to fit the size of the bag bottom.I think they are called plastic canvas.

I buy those think plastic cutting boards from the dollar store then I can cut them to any size needed.

I use plastic canvas. I can easily cut it to fit any size tote bag. I cover it in fabric to match the lining. Sometimes I sew it between the lining and the exterior bag other times I make it removable.

I use nothing.

I just finished crocheted bag (crocheted of size 10 thread) and fabric lined. It was very floppy so I cut plastic canvas to fit and tacked it onto the bottom between the lining and the crochet. Seems to have worked out very well.

Inexpensive too (besides, I had it in "stock")

I use foam board. You can get it in the craft dept. at Walmart or the Dollar store.Cut it to fit and make a sleeve to fit it. Hope that helps.

What a coincidence! I was at the fabric store the other day when somebody next to me at the cutting counter brought up that question. The answer was to look in the section with the pellon. There ought to be a roll of very stiff interfacing made especially for the bottom of bags and purses.

Plastic canvas - or any sturdy/stiff plastic item which can be cut to size. When we have our own bags, we will probably remember to remove the bottom and cover when laundering, but if the bags are gifts or are sold to others, the bottoms should be washable in case the owner does not remember to remove.

I use an old game board (Monopoly, Candy Land, etc), cut to size. They are made of very durable cardboard and are coated. Then I place it inside of a pillowcase to fit the board. I don't sew the pillowcase closed, just fold over and tick under the board, so it can be washed when the bag is washed.

I put 2 of these together using double sided tape, wrap in thin batting and make a sleeve to match the lining.

I use 2 layers of mat board that I always ask for after I have a picture framed. I wrap them together with fabric the matches or coordinates with the inside of the bag and just duct tape the bottom where you don't see it.

How about foam core/board...1/4 in thick and cover with fabric!!

I also use plastic canvas enclosed in a sleeve. Pros: keeps it shape; lightweight (carry enough stuff in my bag so try to avoid any extra weight LOL), washable; inexpensive; easy to cut, can doubled if needed.

I use Timtex & cover it with fabric to match lining. I make it removable so the purse can be washed & the bottom stays stiff.