12 Ways to Make a Stylish Clutch Bag
As retailers increasingly transition away from plastic bags, fabric tote bags have become common for shopping. Cotton totes are often affordable, and many people own several. A plain tote bag can be customized for various purposes, such as grocery shopping, carrying lunch, or holding reading materials. Handmade tote bags can also serve as environmentally conscious gift wrap or as an inexpensive, personalized thank-you gift.
Explore these DIY tote bag ideas, which include techniques like stamping, stenciling, screen printing, and iron-on transfers, to help you create your own custom tote bag.
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DIY Painted Polka Dot Tote Bag
Caylin Harris
This craft project details how to decorate a basic canvas bag with painted polka dots. Using paint and creative application, you can design a customized tote suitable for various uses, such as trips to the gym or grocery store.
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Easy Felt Tote Bag Pattern
Mollie Johanson
This felt tote bag project is designed to be straightforward, making it suitable for sewing beginners, including children. The casual nature of the fabric can make it appropriate for uses like a gym bag or as an activity for a children’s craft party.
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DIY Striped Pocket Tote Bag
Mollie Johanson
This DIY tote bag features colorful stripes that also function as pockets for storing accessories. This design can be useful for outings to the beach or gym.
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DIY Heart Stencil Tote Bag Using Freezer Paper
Lovely Indeed
This project from Lovely Indeed demonstrates how to use freezer paper to create a heart-shaped stencil for customizing a tote bag.
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DIY Nautical Stamped Anchor Tote Bag
Lost In The Haze
Lost In The Haze provides instructions for creating a nautical-themed tote bag with a stamped anchor design. The project involves making a stamp from cardboard, then using paint on a blank canvas tote. The blue and white design is suitable for beach use or for those who appreciate nautical aesthetics.
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DIY Gold Foil Accent Tote Bag
Craftaholics Anonymous
Craftaholics Anonymous offers a tutorial for creating a tote bag with a metallic gold heart accent using iron-on foil. The guide also includes instructions for sewing a tote bag from burlap for those interested in a more involved project.
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DIY Silkscreen “Bride” Tote Bag
Something Turquoise
Something Turquoise demonstrates how to create a colorful tote bag with the word “Bride” using a silkscreen kit and freehand painted brushstrokes. This project can serve as a personalized gift idea.
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DIY Neon Polka Dot Tote Bag
Say Yes
This project for a neon polka dot canvas bag is presented as a simple activity suitable for children’s participation. It requires neon fabric paint, a plain canvas bag, and a pencil eraser for stamping. Detailed instructions are available from Say Yes.
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DIY Geometric Block Print Tote Bag
Mad In Crafts
Mad In Crafts provides a tutorial for creating a geometric print tote bag. The method involves making a stamp from craft foam to produce a design, such as the example green, pink, and gold triangle print.
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DIY Iron-On Transfer Tote Bag
How About Orange
How About Orange offers a downloadable “Look On The Bright Side” iron-on transfer template. This template can be printed on transfer paper using a home printer and then applied to a blank canvas bag with an iron.
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DIY Hand-Painted Glitter Heart Tote Bag
Crafts Unleashed
Crafts Unleashed presents a method for creating a painted hearts tote bag. The technique involves masking heart shapes and painting the surrounding area, with an option to add gold glitter to some hearts for additional detail.
Hand-Painted DIY Glitter Heart Tote Bag from Crafts Unleashed
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DIY Popsicle Tote Bag with Printable Transfer
Creature Comforts
This project guides users in creating pastel-toned popsicle iron-on transfer tote bags, suitable for children’s party favors or gift bags. Creature Comforts provides a step-by-step tutorial, a free iron-on transfer template, and coordinating printables like gift tags and banners.
