INSIDE : Learn how to create a gorgeous DIY Striped West Elm inspired tote bag! Perfect for carrying your miscellaneous items around in style.
Here is my inspiration bag, the Baggu Dipped Tote in gold. It comes in at a price of forty five dollars. I did a little photoshop action and added my knock off Canvas Shoulder Bag for a side by side comparison. My bag came in at a total of eight dollars.
What supplies do you need to make a Striped Tote Bag?
Black Acrylic Paint
Stamper Brush
Fabric Medium
Tulip Color Shot fabric spray paint
Masking Tape or Painters Tape
Black Ribbon
Sewing Machine
How do I paint a Striped Tote Bag?
The first order of business is to purchase your canvas totes. I got mine at Hobby Lobby but there are a ton of options as to what type or style of bag you can select. I went for simple no frills tote bag.
I then took masking tape (I can’t locate our painter’s tape to save my life) and started blocking out the stripe pattern. I started at about 2/3 from the bottom and worked my way up. Leave the strap as is for now.
Next, I used my black acrylic paint and added some acrylic fabric paint medium as per the directions. The fabric medium helps prevent the paint from cracking once it has dried.
I slowly started filling in the blank spaces using my pouncer. Make sure your tape is pushed down all the way so no paint sneaks underneath it.
After about an hour, I removed the masking tape. Phew, what a lovely surprise so far.
Next, I wanted to mimic the black stripes along the West Elm bag’s handles but didn’t want to paint them.
I was worried even with using acrylic fabric paint medium that the paint would bleed onto the shoulders of my clothing. So, I grabbed some black ribbon and my sewing machine. I’m absolutely not a fancy sewer and hate being precise with things like measuring. So, I just eye balled the spacing at fairly regular intervals.
I also cut each ribbon to be about 3″ in length and left the excess hang over each side of the strap.
After all the ribbons were sewn on, I cut them down to size.
To get the gold color on the bottom portion of the bag, I tried a new product called Tulip Color Shot fabric spray paint.
I wrapped the entire canvas bag in a plastic bag and taped down the edges just at the edge of the last black stripe. I could not have been more pleased with the color. It took two quick swipes and was the perfect shimmery gold addition.
Striped West Elm Inspired tote bag
The final product was so much better than I could even have imagined!
I am officially in love with this tote and to be perfectly honest, I have a soft spot in my heart for DIY tote bags!
Looking for other fun tote bags crafts?
Embroidery Photo Bag
Outdoor Games Bag
Pom Pom Tote Bag
Thanksgiving Menu Tote Bag
Thanks so much for linking to Whimsy Wednesday! I featured your fabulous pretty West Elm Bag today in my roundup! I would love to have one!
You can see the post here >
http://www.ohmy-creative.com/spring/pretty-spring-projects/
Thanks,
Susan
LOVE your bag! Featuring you today from the Creative Connection Party 🙂
OK – I pinned this idea when you first posted with ever intend to make a similiar one. In my true fashion, it has yet to get done. BUT I keep seeing this idea all over the blogworld! It has reinforced my desire to make one…I am makign a list and hitting Michaels tomorrow!!!
What a super cute bag. Thanks for sharing it, Pinned to the party board!
I totally love your bag more than the West Elm version – it’s bolder, it pops way more! Great job 🙂
You’ve been featured at Link’n Blogs! The party goes live tonight at 10pm MST, so stop by to see your feature. Congrats! 🙂
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com/2014/03/linkn-blogs-16-giveaway.html
xo
Daniela
Amazing! Can you make me one-haha? I am obsessed with bags, and stripes..LOVE! Featuring you today at WIW!Hugs…
Love it!
I think I actually like your version better and you can’t beat that price!
…and congrats! You are featured on this week’s Do Tell Tuesday link party and have been pinned to our features board! Feel free to grab a button and link up this week too. 🙂 http://www.vintagezest.com/2014/03/do-tell-tuesday-14-with-features-co-host.html
Diane @ Vintage Zest
That bag is so darn cute!
Super cute, and I really couldn’t tell the difference between them. Great job,and thanks for linking up to the Do Tell Tuesday party.
This bag is really cute! I’m going to try it!
Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com
super cute! love it…
What a cute bag Amy!! You are so clever!!
Thanks for sharing at Project Inspire{d}!
This is AMAZING! I love West Elm so much…including this bag. I also love the green stool you featured in this photo, haha. So glad I stumbled upon your blog!
– Kate @ Toile + Thyme
So simple- and super cute Amy. This bag would be perfect for my holiday! Hmm…. wonder if I have time to make one:)
thanks for joining up and linking at Take-A-Look Tuesday – – just wanted to give you a heads up that I featured you yesterday!!
–Mandy, SugarBeeCrafts.com
This is so adorable! I bet you carry it everywhere 🙂 Love all the great things that can be done with a plain tote bag, and this one may be one of my favorites!
I love the bag and your clear easy instructions to make it, but most of all I love how you photoshopped it into the website!
Super cute, Amy! I love the gold.
Thank you for sharing this at Brag About It Link Party on VMG206.
~ Megin of VMG206
This is so cute and so simple…how’d of thought?! I’m definitely going to have to try this one!
You totally nailed this! Thanks for sharing at The Makers Amy!
Wow! Awesome job, the tote is soooo pretty! Haha, I have to rebuy so many things because I can’t find tape or scissors, you know that kind of thing! LOL
OBSESSED! Seriously I want this bag! You did an amazing job
This is so cute and I love the design of the bag you decided to knockoff! I want one! Pinned 🙂
Everything you do is magic! Love it!
CUTE! I do love anything from west elm 😉
http://tellloveandchocolate.blogspot.com/
Love this!
Your tote turned out so well! Beautiful!
Perfection!! At first glance I thought the west elm photo was untouched and that your bag was the original!
Amy, I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with this!!! Pinning so I can remember to recreate it later. Great job. So awesome! – Bre @ Average But Inspired
Awesome! The black and white stripe plus gold speak my language!
Great idea!!!
whaaat?! This is fantastic! I’ve had my eye on that West Elm bag forever. Excellent work. Now if you’ll just kindly put one in the mail for me…
This is so awesome! I need to make one!
That is amazing! I love the look of the bag you made! Thanks for linking up!! http://timeforseason.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-favorite-things-saturdays-31.html
Beautiful bag, love the gold. West Elm is amazing, but a great knock off is even better.
I’m on a new mission to do more knock off projects! Thanks for stopping by.
You know, I actually like yours better than the WE version! It’s fabulous and I just might be borrowing your idea. Thanks for sharing.
I was really impressed with how the gold turned out. Normally with paints you don’t get that nice metallic shine, but this one was great!
What a fabulous idea! Love it!
Thanks so much, Cindy!
LOVE this bag! You did such a great job! I hope you’ll link it up to our All Things Thursday Blog Hop that is live right now. Pinned!
Blessings,
Nici
Thanks for the pin, Nici!