Updated on May 18, 2024
DIY Painted Tote Bag. Learn how to make a painted tote bag. You can make these with any colors or stencils, making them a great gift idea.
I don’t think you can ever have too many tote bags. They have a variety of uses. I use them for shopping, taking things with me when I run errands, keeping the kid’s after-school things together, and more.
This is why I think they make the perfect gift idea. You can customize a canvas tote bag with whatever theme or colors you like.
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Thank you to Plaid for sponsoring this post and providing some supplies.
How to Make a Painted Tote Bag
I used FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic paints for this project. These paints give you the biggest bang for your buck because you can use them on different surfaces, including fabric!
The kind of paint you use matters, as you may need to wash the bag at some point. So, make sure your paint is suitable for fabric. You can use fabric markers or add fabric paint medium to regular acrylic paint.
Supplies:
- Tote Bag
- FolkArt Multi-Surface Paint, various colors
- Stencil Brushes
- Stencil
Painted Heart Tote Bag
These tote bags are so easy to decorate. I started by finding a stencil I liked at the craft store. This one is a year-round holiday stencil that includes many different designs.
Note: You don’t have to use a stencil and can paint on your own designs.
I wanted to use the cute scalloped heart for my first tote.
Place a piece of cardboard inside the tote bag before you start so no paint bleeds to the other side.
I wanted to create an evenly-spaced design. I used my ruler and some painter’s tape to mark off straight lines. Then, I used the ruler and a Sharpie marker to mark where each heart would be painted.
I laid out all my paint colors before I started.
To create a similar effect with fewer paints, you can add white paint or black to a few select colors to lighten and darken them or mix two colors together to make a new one.
Place the stencil where you want it on the tote bag, and add paint to your stencil brush. You can use a regular paintbrush for this project, but I find them harder to use without getting paint under the stencil.
Don’t add too much paint to your brush, or it will seep under the stencil.
I usually add paint to my brush and tap it on an empty pallet. Dab the paint on in an up-and-down motion until the entire stencil area is covered.
Carefully lift the stencil from your tote bag.
Wipe off any excess paint before placing the stencil back down, especially on the backside. Use a damp microfiber cloth or paper towel for this.
Repeat this process until you have painted on all the hearts.
I love everything rainbow, and this heart tote is no exception! You could easily add a name or saying with a stencil to personalize this gift even more.
Painted Snowflake Tote Bag
Making the snowflake tote bag is much like the heart bag, but I randomly painted snowflakes on the bag instead of having a specific pattern.
I used the large and small snowflakes on the stencil for my design.
Again, wipe the stencil off after each use before moving to the next spot.
On this bag, I added Fabric Creations Fantasy Glitter paint in Unicorn over the top of some of the snowflakes.
To do this, I painted the large and small snowflakes with paint. Then, without moving the stencil, I went over the snowflake with glitter paint. The sparkle effect reminds me of snow.
You can use this same method to add more layers of paint to your design if you like.
Heat Set the Paint
Allow to dry and heat set the paint with a dry iron and a pressing cloth.
I used my EasyPress for this. I covered the painted area with a protective sheet. For a cotton tote, set the EasyPress to 315ยบ, and, using gentle pressure, press the tote for about 45 seconds.
I recommend heat-setting the paint after the totes are dry, even if you don’t use the glitter paint. Use a dry iron and a pressing cloth to go over the painted areas on the tote bag.
Painting tote bags is a fun way to personalize these tote bags for the perfect gift idea. You can choose your recipient’s favorite colors and patterns you know they will love!
Washing Instructions
The tote bags can be washed on a gentle cycle, inside out.
I hope you enjoyed these tote bag painting ideas. With all the stencils out there, the options are limitless!
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