SMASHUP Tutorial: Cute Canvas Tote Bags

Hybrid Totebag Tutorial
by Audrey Neal

Even though we usually do a big grocery store run on Saturday or Sunday, it never fails that we end up needing one or two things here and there throughout the week. Instead of amassing another pile of plastic bags, why not make a great little totebag – with a “Go Green!” reminder – to carry your groceries when you’re just grabbing a few things?

 

Supplies:

totebag, ribbon, iron-on letters (March Style Phyle)

“Apple of My Eye” digital kit

iron-on transfers for dark fabric (Avery)

buttons (3 brown, 11 red)

embroidery floss (white, brown, red)

 

Instructions:

1. Open a      new blank file with the following specs:

width: 11 inches

height: 8.5 inches

resolution: 300 ppi

color mode: RGB

background: transparent

2. Open      the school paper and drag it onto your blank document * see picture below
3. Now      we’re going to make a quick scallop border. Create a new layer      (Ctrl+Shift+N) on top of your school paper. Select a 300 pixel brush and      make 5 overlapping dots, then duplicate this layer (Layer>Duplicate      layer, OK). Move the layer over so that it lines up with the original      layer. Repeat until the line of dots is as long as your background layer.      Arrange your scallop along the top border of your paper. (screen2)      Duplicate it twice and arrange these borders along each side. Make sure      your top scallop layer (in your layers palette) is highlighted, and then      merge the 3 scallop layers (Ctrl+E on each layer). Make sure that you      don’t merge the scallops with the background paper.
4. Open      the red dot paper and drag it above your scallop border. Click Ctrl+G to      group it with your border, then Ctrl+E to merge the layers.
5. Open      the green circles paper. Select your Magnetic Lasso Tool. Starting about      halfway down the page, drag your lasso tool along the circle shapes. As      you move across the page, angle farther down so that you are creating a      sloped background. Once you get to the other side of the paper, trace up      along the upper edge of your paper. (screen1)
6. When      you get back to your starting point and click, “marching ants” will appear      around your selection. Click “delete.” Click Ctrl+D to deselect the image.      If necessary, take your eraser tool and erase any stray portions of the      image. Drag and drop the green paper onto your school paper. If you      choose, use your Magic Wand tool to select the black lines in your green      paper and then click “delete.” This will remove all the black lines in the      pattern.
7. Open      the tree stickers and drag them onto your paper. Arrange them to your      liking and add a slight drop shadow if necessary. Repeat with the      sunflower stickers.

**Note: To add drop shadows:

Under “Styles and Effects” on the right side of your screen, make sure “Drop Shadows” is selected from the drop-down menu. With the layer you want to shadow highlighted, click on the “Low” shadow box. A small symbol that looks like an “f” inside a circle will appear next to the layer name. To adjust the shadow, double click on that symbol. I prefer to use a distance setting of 4 to 5 pixels, rather than the default of 21.

8. Open      the red label and drag it onto your paper.
9. Open      the staple and drag it on top of the label. Position it where you want it      to go, and then merge it with the label (Ctrl+E). Duplicate the label      three times and arrange as shown.
10. Select      your type tool and position it on top of one of the labels. Choose your      font and size, then type your text. I used the font “1942 report” and      typed the

    New England

    proverb: “Use it      up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
11. Open      the blackbird sticker and drag it on top of one of your labels. Add a      slight drop shadow.
12. Flatten      the image and save it.

Print the image onto your transfer paper, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply the iron-on to the totebag as directed.

Add the iron-on letters. You’ll want to remove the letters from their protective backing, because the paper will otherwise stick to the first iron-on. With careful attention, these letters will peel directly off the backing; just place them where you want them to go on top of the background image. Once your letters are arranged, cover them with a sheet of tissue paper (you might want to use a couple of additional sheets to cover the entire image, just for the sake of being careful) and apply steady pressure with a hot iron. After 1-2 minutes of pressure, remove the iron and let the image cool before removing the tissue paper.

Embellish with ribbon, buttons, and additional stitches.

A great variation of this project would be to print each component (trees, flowers, frame, labels, etc) onto printable fabric, and then applique it onto the totebag.

Comments

[Deborah]

super-duper cute....what a great idea

[Angie Hinksman]

WAY COOL Audrey :)

tfs