Decorate Your Tote Bags with This Easy Technique

Create a dazzling DIY tote bag with glitter and fabric! Use Mod Podge, fabric, and embellishments to make a stylish and unique design. Easy and fun!

Skills Required: Beginner. You don’t need prior crafting skills. You’ll be adding glitter with Mod Podge and then cutting out a design, and ironing.

If you open my pantry door, you might be concerned – I have enough random totes hanging on hooks to supply a small village. I don’t know what it is . . . I just love always having bags at my disposal!

A lot of them are blinged out, because I love decorating tote bags, especially with Mod Podge.

And that’s what I’m about to show you today. I’m convinced you’re going to fall in love with decorating tote bags too.

When you check out the instructions, you might be wondering why we used Heat n’ Bond on this project as opposed to just slapping Fabric Mod Podge on the back and slapping it down.

The reason is because cotton fabric becomes somewhat transparent when you add Mod Podge, which would cause the glitter (and the tote color) to show through the patch.

Are you ready to give this project a try? Get the printable how to for this project below:

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Decorate a Tote Bag

Learn how to decorate canvas bags with Mod Podge and glitter! Makes such a great gift idea.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Active Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Dry Time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Yield: 1 tote

Cost: $10

Equipment

• Iron
• Scissors
• Foam brush(es)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Heat gun or hair dryer
• Die cutter optional

Materials

• Canvas tote bag
• Mod Podge Fabric
• Fabric quarter
• Heat and Bond Ultra-Hold
• Glitter
• Painter’s tape
• Cardboard square
• Embellishments like pearls, optional

Instructions

• Cut a template for the circle on the cardboard square using either a die cutter or scissors. Tape it down on the tote with painter’s tape, making sure it’s centered.
  
• Spread Fabric Mod Podge onto the tote within the circle template.
  
• Sprinkle glitter onto the wet Mod Podge and then remove the template. Let dry.
  
• While the glitter is drying, back the fabric quarter with Heat and Bond.
  
• Cut a design out of the fabric using an electronic die cutter or scissors.
  
• Adhere the design onto the glitter circle using a hot glue gun – then go over lightly with an iron (so the bond attaches to the glitter).
  
• Add embellishments using a hot glue gun and tweezers (if necessary). Let the bag cool/completely dry before using.
  

Notes

Tip: you can use parchment paper between the iron and design if you are worrying about melting the Mod Podge or glitter.

Decorating tote bags is easy, no? I didn’t even have to break out the sewing machine. Love it! If you love decorating totes, here are some other projects you’re going to love:

• DIY Gift Bags That Will Up Your Gifting Game
• No-Sew Tote Decorating with Mod Podge
• Decorate a Canvas Bag with Fabric in Three Steps
• Wrapping Paper Crafts to Use Up Leftovers!
• DIY Fabric Covered Plastic Bins with Mod Podge