Notebook Tote Bag

Carry a DIY tote bag that’ll make people stop and take note! Great for teachers and students, our canvas tote bag craft for kids and adults is easy to make.

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Supplies:

  • Acrylic Paint
  • Fabric Markers
  • Paint Brushes
  • Canvas Bag
  • Pencil
  • Disposable Cups
  • Ruler
  • Craft Sticks

CIY Staff Tips:

  • When adding designs to your bag, be sure to sketch in pencil first.
  • Get creative with how you want to decorate your bag; we chose to add fun bubble letters!
  • Experiment with mixing different paint colours. To create a shadow effect, separate the same base colour into 2 disposable cups. Mix a small amount of white paint into one of the cups to create the letter colour. Mix a small amount of black paint into the other cup to create the shadow colour.

Steps:

1
Step 1

Using a pencil and ruler, make a tick mark at the top and bottom of the bag, both at an equal distance from the left edge.

2
Step 2

Use red fabric marker and ruler to connect the tick marks, making a vertical line to create the margin of a piece of notebook paper.

3
Step 3

Leave space at the top of bag for the first line of notebook paper, then make evenly-spaced tick marks along the red line with pencil.

4
Step 4

Make another set of evenly-spaced tick marks on the right side.

5
Step 5

Use blue fabric marker and ruler to connect the tick marks, making horizontal lines across the bag like notebook paper.

6
Step 6

Add the 3-hole punch to the left margin with black fabric marker.

7
Step 7

Pour and stir paint with craft sticks in disposable cups.

8
Step 8

Paint accents, doodles, or your name on the bag. Dry 1–2 hours.

9
Step 9

Load your gear and take your custom tote on the go!

  • Occasion:

    • Rainy Day Crafts,

    • Handmade Gifts,

    • Back to School

  • Age:

    • 8+,

    • Tween+


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