DIY Nautical Tote Bag for National Craft Month with Free Anchor Pattern (PDF)
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March 12, 2014
Hello everyone! Did you know that March is National Craft Month? I'm very excited to share this DIY Nautical Tote Bag as part of the Jo-Ann Fabric And Craft Stores® National Craft Month campaign. I am one of the crafters selected to share our love for crafting and highlight the latest spring trends. Jo-Ann makes spring crafting easy during National Craft Month with a $5 off $25 or more purchase coupon and a spring crafting inspiration website.
Since we've been having bright sunshine days here in Arizona, it was easy for me to take on the Nautical trend.
I always try to include something new when creating for Jo-Ann. And for today's project, I'm playing with Fabric Transfer Ink!
I painted very carefully on this anchor but I couldn't keep the paint within the lines so I decided to cut it out. It is always easier to cut out a pattern starting with the center portion.
Here is where it didn't work out. I ironed the pattern on and it was much lighter than I expected. I then read the instructions and found out the "Vibrancy of color transfer will vary with different blends of fabrics. For best results, use fabrics that contain 60% or less." <-- Read the instructions!
The tote bag I used is 100% cotton. I'm so glad I got the Cotton Fabrics spray! It conditions the cotton to increase ink absorbency. Spray and let dry!
I poured too much ink out so I decided to try some other patterns! First, a self-adhesive compass mask! Think how cool this would be on a T-shirt?!
Then I tried using masking tape to create stripes. Quick and easy!
Let the painted patterns to dry for about 45min. Put the pattern ink side down on the tote surface, put a piece of clean paper on top, set your iron on highest heat and "dry" (no steam!) and iron away!
I ironed my anchor first, the basecoat was still sticky and helped keep the pattern in place. I then placed the stripes on top to get a cool overlapping look.
I added the compass pattern to the final project and left it at a lighter color for some visual depth. The harder and longer you iron, the darker the color will be.
The painted patterns can be used for more than once but the color will be lighter and lighter each time. Just looking at these nautical icons makes me happy!
The "Design Your Own" canvas totes come with handles but I want to make it more nautical with twisted rope handles! And everything's nicer with some gold on it, right?
So in 3 hours (mostly waiting for the ink to dry), I have a cute, chic, trendy nautical tote bag to use!
Let's go out and play in the sun, shall we?
Wait, let's have the anchor patterns first!
First Try Free Anchor Pattern (goes on the left of your bag)
Second Try Free Anchor Pattern (goes on the right of your bag)
Thank you for stopping by! Happy Crafting!
I always try to include something new when creating for Jo-Ann. And for today's project, I'm playing with Fabric Transfer Ink!
Supplies
- DecoArt Ink Effects blue ink - Deco Art Ink Effects for Cotton Fabrics spray - Wear'm medium canvas tote in natural color - Printable anchor pattern (download link at the end of this post) - Paint palette and paint brush - Iron [Optional] Chic Twisted Handles - 3/8" natural twisted trimming (1 yard) - Dritz 7/16" eyelet kit - Scissors - Hammer All supplies except the anchor pattern were found and bought at my local Jo-Ann store. All products used are my own choice and this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience.First Try
I used thin printer paper (24lb) for my pattern and it worked fine. The instruction says that the Fabric Transfer Ink can be used on coloring book pages - endless pattern possibilities! As you can see the picture below, a little goes a long way!
I painted very carefully on this anchor but I couldn't keep the paint within the lines so I decided to cut it out. It is always easier to cut out a pattern starting with the center portion.
Here is where it didn't work out. I ironed the pattern on and it was much lighter than I expected. I then read the instructions and found out the "Vibrancy of color transfer will vary with different blends of fabrics. For best results, use fabrics that contain 60% or less." <-- Read the instructions!
The tote bag I used is 100% cotton. I'm so glad I got the Cotton Fabrics spray! It conditions the cotton to increase ink absorbency. Spray and let dry!
Second Try
While waiting on the tote to dry, I prepared my second anchor pattern. Since I knew I would cut it out, I went with a wider paint brush and just brushed the color on.
I poured too much ink out so I decided to try some other patterns! First, a self-adhesive compass mask! Think how cool this would be on a T-shirt?!
Then I tried using masking tape to create stripes. Quick and easy!
Let the painted patterns to dry for about 45min. Put the pattern ink side down on the tote surface, put a piece of clean paper on top, set your iron on highest heat and "dry" (no steam!) and iron away!
I ironed my anchor first, the basecoat was still sticky and helped keep the pattern in place. I then placed the stripes on top to get a cool overlapping look.
I added the compass pattern to the final project and left it at a lighter color for some visual depth. The harder and longer you iron, the darker the color will be.
The painted patterns can be used for more than once but the color will be lighter and lighter each time. Just looking at these nautical icons makes me happy!
The "Design Your Own" canvas totes come with handles but I want to make it more nautical with twisted rope handles! And everything's nicer with some gold on it, right?
So in 3 hours (mostly waiting for the ink to dry), I have a cute, chic, trendy nautical tote bag to use!
Let's go out and play in the sun, shall we?
Wait, let's have the anchor patterns first!
First Try Free Anchor Pattern (goes on the left of your bag)
Second Try Free Anchor Pattern (goes on the right of your bag)
Thank you for stopping by! Happy Crafting!
4 comments
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Dimensional Lucky Clover with Free PDF Template Pattern
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Categories
- #TBT
- 100% Love Stamp Set
- A Bunch
- A Bunch Stamp Set
- A Homemade Christmas
- Amazing Word Die
- Anything Paper but a Card
- Awesome Word Die
- Back to Basics
- Balloon Messages
- Be My Guest
- Be My Guest Stamp Set
- Birthday Fishes
- Birthday Fishes Stamp Set
- Blog Hop
- Bowtiful
- Bowtiful Additions
- Bowtiful Additions Stamp Set
- Bowtiful Die Set
- Calendar
- Calendar Numbers
- Celebrate Word Die
- Challenge
- Chirp Chirp Dye Ink
- Christmas
- Claire
- Claire Stamp Set
- ColorStory Inks
- Congrats
- Congrats Word Die
- Cool Tools
- Cutaway Alpha
- Daydreaming Dye Ink
- Design Team
- Dimensional Frames Die
- Doily Circle
- Doily Circle Die
- Doily Square
- Doily Square Die
- Doily Square Stamp Set
- Downloads
- DT Mix
- Egg Hunt
- Egg Hunt Die
- Fall Blend Inkpad
- Faye
- Faye Stamp Set
- Feather More
- First Step
- Five for Friday
- Flower Circles
- Flower Circles Die
- Flower Circles Inverted Die
- Flutter
- Flutter Stamp Set
- Fun Finds
- Gemstone
- Gemstone Stamp Set
- Gift Bag Die
- Give Thanks
- Give Thanks Die
- Giveaway
- Good Stuff
- Good Stuff Die
- Guest Design
- Handmade Embellishments
- Happy Go Lucky Dye Ink
- Hey Mr
- Hey Mr Stamp Set
- Hibiscus
- Holiday Label 1 Die
- Holiday Labels
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks
- Holiday Labels Give Thanks Stamp Set
- Holiday Labels Merry
- Holiday Labels Merry Stamp Set
- In Every Way
- Inks
- Inspiration
- InstaLove Die
- Jumbo Letter Die
- Jumbo Letter HI
- Lace Tape
- Lacy Flower
- Lacy Flower Mats Die
- Lacy Flowers Die
- Lacy Layers 2 Die
- Lacy Layers Die
- Leafy
- Life Anchor
- Little Gifts 3D Die
- Little Gifts Stamp Set
- Little Mermaids
- Lotus
- Loved
- Magical
- Magical Die
- Magical Word Die
- Mailable 3D Bow Template Die
- Meet-up
- Mini Trifold Notes Die
- Monochrome
- My Pleasure Dye Ink
- New Fish in Pond Dye Ink
- New Release
- Notions
- Oh Happy Day Dye Ink
- On My Mark
- On My Mark Die
- PaperCut Alpha Die
- Partly Cloudy Die
- Pattern Play
- Peace On Earth
- Perfect Word Die
- Petal Holder Die
- Pinking Layers Die
- Planner - Stay Focused
- Planner Add-on
- Planted
- Planted Stamp Set
- Pots Die
- Potted
- Product Love
- Publications
- Purse-nality Die
- Purse-nality Stamp set
- Quick & Easy
- Rain Check
- Rain Check Stamp Set
- Recharge
- Riverside
- Riverside Die Set
- Riverside Stamp Set
- Rock My World
- Rock My World Die Set
- Rock My World Stamp Set
- Rosette Hearts Die
- Safe Choice Dye Ink
- Sew Fun
- Shellabrate
- Shellabrate Stamp Set
- Shower
- Shower Stamp Set
- Silhouette Cameo
- Sketchy Alpha Stamp Set
- Sketchy Letters Stamp Set
- Sketchy Numbers Stamp Set
- Snail Mail
- Snail Mail Stamp Set
- Spread the Word
- Spring Blend Inkpad
- Stamps & Cards
- Starry Night
- Starry Night Stamp Set
- Stay Focused Die
- Stocking
- Stocking Die
- Stocking Stamp Set
- Storage
- Succulents Stamp Set
- Summer Blend Inkpad
- Surface Tag
- Surface Tag Die Santa Add-on
- Surface – Tag
- Surface – Tag Die – Scallop Add-on
- Surface – Tag Die – Starter Kit
- Technique
- Tiger & Lily
- Tiger & Lily Stamp Set
- Tiny Circle Die
- Tiny Die Trio
- Tiny Heart Die
- Tiny Love Bubble Die
- Tiny Pumpkin Face Die
- Tiny Star Die
- Tiny Twine Bow Die
- Tiny Wings Die
- Tiny Word Bubble Die
- Tribal Bear
- Tribal Pattern Die
- Tribal Thank You
- Tribal Thank You Stamp Set
- Trick or Treat Die
- Trick or Treat Stamp Set
- Tutorials
- Uncategorized
- Video
- Waffle Flower Crafts
- Warm Wishes Stamp Set
- Watch It Wednesday (Videos)
- Welcome Spring
- Welcome Spring Stamp Set
- Wild & Free
- Willy
- Willy & Friends
- Willy & Friends Die
- Willy & Friends Stamp Set
- Winter Blend Inkpad
- With Love Word Die
- Yippee Word Die
- You Said What Dye Ink
- zChallenges
Hey There!
We are having a Linky Party here http://ss1.us/a/OI0JG9RY and are looking for clever crafty projects. I found your nautical tote on craftgawker and think it is super cool! We are choosing 3 of our favorite projects, and those chosen will get $5 in Blitsy credits. Hopefully we see you at our party! :)
Meghan
mmhellmuth on
[…] DIY tote is a lovely take on the always popular nautical theme that inspires summer trips to the beach and […]
Weekend DIY Projects | Interior Beavers on
What a cool project! This is something I could do with Ellie too!
Miriam Prantner on
This is great Nina!!
Holly on