HOW TO PERSONALIZE YOUR OWN TOTE BAG
Personalizing your own tote bag can help you easily spot your bag no matter where you take it. With this simple DIY project you can personalize your own tote bag to show off your personality or use this idea to customize a gift for someone special.
To personalize your tote bag you will need to start by gathering these materials:
- Tote Bag
- Pencil
- Pen
- Notebook Paper (optional)
- Printer Paper
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- Fine Point Sharpie
STEP 1- DECIDE ON HOW YOU WANT TO DECORATE YOUR TOTE BAG
The first thing I did after receiving my bag was write my initials on the back. I did this for the reassurance in knowing which bag is mine when I go to set it down and pick it up.
After a few days I decided I did not like how small the initials were and how hard it was to see from a distance. To fix the problem I decided to use the remaining space below the initials to make a cursive letter D.
The only problem I had with this idea was that I am not good at coming up with my own design. With that in mind I looked up how to make a cursive letter D in a book called The Calligrapher’s Bible- 100 Complete Alphabets And How To Draw Them by David Harris.
(For this step you can still follow along with this tutorial even if you do not own this book and can’t come up with your own design. Just look on the internet for an initial that you like. Print it off then skip step 2, and go directly to step 3).
STEP 2- PRACTICE MAKING YOUR DESIGN
With the book as a reference I practiced on notebook paper making a cursive letter D with a pen. The reason I used a pen was to prevent myself from stopping in the middle of writing my letter and erase it.
Once I was satisfied with my design on 8 1/2 by 11 printer paper turned horizontal I drew a big letter D with a pencil. I made sure to draw my letter as close to the top and bottom edges of my paper without it running off to make it as big as possible.
Then I carefully traced over the letter D with a fine point sharpie so I could easily see the lines to cut out my design.
STEP 3- CUT OUT YOUR DESIGN AND TRACE IT ONTO YOUR BAG
After tracing over my letter with a sharpie I cut out my design along the lines with scissors.
Then I grabbed a square piece of cardboard that I had saved from my wall calendar and put it inside my bag. The reason I did this was to protect my bag when I trace over my letter with a sharpie so it does not bleed to the other side.
Taking the letter D that I had cut out I placed it on the back of my bag. I chose not to take this time to measure my bag to find the center for my design instead I just eyeballed it. Than with my non-dominate hand I held the paper down onto the bag while using my other hand to trace the design onto my bag with a fine point sharpie.
STEP 4- COLOR IN YOUR DESIGN WITH A FINE POINT SHARPIE
For the final step in my design I colored in my letter with a fine point sharpie being careful to stay inside the lines.
For this final step you can make this your own by adding glitter, jewels, or by painting in your design. Get creative and have fun doing it.
So that’s it! The tote bag went from generic to my very own personalized tote bag. I love having the peace of mind knowing that no matter where I take it I will know that it is mine.
I hope this post gave you an idea on how to personalize your own tote bag.
How do you like to personalize your own tote bag? Let me know in the comments below!
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Thank you so much for following along! Have a wonderful day!
The book used in this post comes from Harris, David. The Calligrapher’s Bible- 100 Complete Alphabets And How To Draw Them. United States, Canada, and the Philippine Republic: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. 2003.
