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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Stenciled Tote Bag; Lake Hair Don’t Care

    Updated: Mar 24, 2019 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 3 Comments

    Today I’m excited to be sharing a tutorial for this Lake Hair, Don’t Care DIY Stenciled Tote Bag. I’ve mentioned before that  I live in Kentucky and we are lucky to have many amazing lakes in our state. Our personal favorite is Lake Cumberland. It’s a few hours from our house but we love to “steal away” down there whenever we can.

    Lake Hair Don't Care Tote Bag

     

    The last time we were there I spotted a t-shirt that said “Lake Hair Don’t Care”, I totally wanted to buy it but they didn’t have it in my size.  At the time my hair was pulled up into a ponytail and hidden under a hat so the phrase seemed absolutely fitting.

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

     

    I decided that I’d make a fun tote bag with the saying instead of getting the t-shirt. I designed a .svg file to go with it that you can download for free on my site then upload into your ecutting machine software.

    How to Stencil a Canvas Tote Bag:

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

     

    Okay, are you ready to make one?

    You’re going to need:

    -Canvas Tote Bag

    -Freezer Paper

    -Fabric Spray Paint

    -Iron

    -Cutting Machine (silhouette or Cricut will work, I use a Cricut)

    Begin by uploading the .svg file into your cutting machine software. Download it HERE for free.

    How to Cut out a Freezer Paper Stencil with a Cricut:

    Cut a piece of freezer paper to 12×12 and attach it to a cutting mat (I think the light touch mat works the best for freezer paper).

    If you’re using a Cricut machine, click on all the layers and then click “attach” so they all cut as one piece.

    Size the image then click – send to the machine.

    Click “reverse” to mirror the image.

    Load your cutting mat into the machine. The shiny side of the freezer paper should be facing up.

    Cut using the “paper” setting on your machine.

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Next, peel away the letters leaving only a “stencil” of your image.

    Carefully peel the stencil away from the cutting mat.

    Apply the Stencil:

    Center the image on the tote bag and iron it onto the bag, shiny side DOWN.

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Remove the insides of the letters from the cutting mat also and iron them into the correct spots on the image.

    Add extra freezer paper to the sides of the stencil so that the entire bag is covered. Also iron one piece of freezer paper to the inside of the bag.

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Using your fabric spray paint, lightly coat the bag. Spray evenly and do not over saturate the bag, or the paint will bleed.

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Let the paint dry.

    Remove the freezer paper and VOILA! You’ve got a custom tote bag!

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Enjoy it on your next trip to the lake!!

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    Also, don’t have a lake close by? I’ve also created a “Pool Hair Don’t Care” file for you too.

     

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

    This post first appeared on the Idea Room

     

    DIY "Lake Hair Don't Care" Stenciled Summer Tote bag with free svg file download by Melissa of polkadotchair.com

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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. Katharine A Orlando says

      August 12, 2016 at 7:06 pm

      Could you possibly create one that say Beach Hair don’t care?

      Reply
    2. Reid says

      August 15, 2016 at 6:43 pm

      What fabric spray paint do you recommend?

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth @ Pineapples and Polka Dots says

      August 16, 2016 at 6:40 pm

      I LOVE this! As a lake lover with long and thick hair, this is a common theme for me. I’m always wearing it in a messy braid or big topknot, and this bag would be the perfect accessory!

      Reply

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    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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