{DIY} Stenciled Tote

Thanks to a typo, this post was almost called {DIY} Stenciled Toe. Which might have made some people in the freaky-fetish category very happy…but no worries, there are no pictures of toes in this post.

And while I don’t have an affinity for feet, I do have a fetish for tote bags. I showed you the Dip Dyed Ombre tote bag last week, and since I’d bought a 4-pack of plain canvas bags, I was dying to have fun with the rest.

All you need is a cotton bag, acrylic paint (I’m on a neon kick), fabric medium, scissors and a sponge. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges are great for stenciling because they are dense and will give you solid coverage (versus a holey sponge). Not to be confused with a Holy sponge. Which is a sponge cut in the shape of a cross. *I kid*

Before you hack into your sponge, it’s best to sketch out the shapes and pattern you want to make first.

Yes, my scissors are gold. I Rub ‘n’ Buffed them. #itsasickness

I prefer to mix fabric medium into my regular craft paints, instead of buying paint specific to fabric….that way I have a broader range of color options. Just dip the sponge in paint, and dab away! Oh, and make sure you slide a piece of cardboard inside the bag so the paint doesn’t bleed through to the back.

It was almost therapeutic creating patterns with the different shapes. I used a pencil eraser for the dots.

Allow your bag to dry for 24-hours, then turn it inside out and heat-set with an iron. After that, you’re safe to wash it.

I still had one more bag, and was having too much fun to stop….and you know me and monograms!

I used painter’s tape for a clean border, then stenciled around the square. I’m not much of a free-hander, so I printed out my initial and traced it on the bag (the black letter showed through the canvas).

I think I’m set in the toe tote bag department now. These would make cute gifts, too. Do you have a tote fetish? How about a toe fetish? Come on, tell us, we’re all friends here.