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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Personalized Tote Bag

    Updated: Nov 14, 2014 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 6 Comments

    *A big thanks to Jo-Ann and Cricut for sending me the supplies to make today’s project! All opinions and hair brained ideas are 100% mine.. this post contains affiliate links** 

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    I seem to pop into Jo-Ann’s once every couple of weeks. I always think that I have enough of what I need for a project then realize I’m missing something silly like a zipper or a button.  I’m guessing that I’m not the only one that does stuff like that, lucky for me I have a store close by.   Have you noticed those cute new totes that they have at the register now?  I mean I always loved the printed bags they had before but these new ones are just “totes adorbs” (forgive the pun *wink*)….

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

     

    I’ve been wanting a sewing tote bag for a while now. I had it on my “list” to make one but you know how those good ol’ “to do” lists go…. Instead that this tote would be a great bag to tote around my sewing supplies with me. I can fit most of what I need inside and throw it over my shoulder when my hands are full.

    On my last run to Jo-Ann’s I picked up a roll of Cricut Iron on Vinyl and decided to put it to use this month.  I’m still participating in the Cricut Design Star Challenge and have one more project left to go (I’ll post it next week, I’m crazy excited about it) but I thought that this would make a super cute bonus project for this design period.

    So I decided to personalize the tote, but instead of just putting my name or monogram on it, I thought it would be fun to do something a bit different.  So I made a little “scissors monogram” for myself.

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    Here’s how I personalized the tote… You’ll need:

    -A Tote Bag from Jo-Ann Stores (it’s $9.99 with a $30 purchase)

    -Roll of Cricut Iron on Vinyl 

    -Cricut Machine

    -Scissors Image & Pacifico Font

    Screen Shot 2014-11-14 at 12.38.35 PM

    I imported my scissors SVG file into the Cricut Design space.  (I made my own scissor, but you can find them online or in the design space).  I then typed my name with the Pacifico font and clicked “weld” to attach all of the letters to each other.  Next I placed the name over the scissors and got the position just right and selected both items and clicked “attach” so they would cut together.

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    I cut it out of the iron on vinyl and peeled off the extra to reveal the shape underneath.

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    I pulled my name out to leave the negative of it for the monogram… it cut out so nice and was so cute and tiny, too bad I didn’t have a use for it!

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    The last thing I did was position the cut out iron onto the bag and iron in place. I used the tip of my iron so that I would not damage the bag handles or trim at all. I also went over the iron on afterwards with a pressing cloth just to be sure it was stuck down well.

    DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag on polkadotchair.com

    That’s it! I think this wold be a really cute Holiday gift for someone .. You could fill it full of sewing supplies, fabric notions, books etc!!  Or fill it full of fun “pampering” items and give it to your favorite teacher!

     

     

    More

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    • Project Teen Book Tour Round Up & Free Printable Gift Tags
    • Nail Polish Gift Ideas
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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Phyllis says

      November 16, 2014 at 3:45 am

      This is such a clever project, well done! You (and everyone else in the US) is so lucky to have Jo-Ann stores….. I love going to them when I am in the US.

      Reply
    2. Sheila Perl says

      November 16, 2014 at 8:16 am

      Really cute, Melissa! I can’t wait to see what you do with the “little Melissa” cutout!!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        November 17, 2014 at 12:06 pm

        Thanks! Maybe a teeny tiny zip pouch or something 🙂

        Reply
    3. Katie says

      March 23, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      Do you know what the bag is made out of?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        March 24, 2018 at 4:06 pm

        I’m guessing cotton twill but I don’t know for sure

        Reply

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