Totes for All: 26 Stylish Tote Bags to DIY
A girl can never have too many bags, right? When you’re rushing out the door juggling handfuls of tiny things, it’s nice to have a cute bag to grab! The tote is the perfect go-to bag because it can travel with you to the grocery store or beach and is still stylish enough to run errands. Plain totes come pretty cheap so you can customize them to fit your outfits or just start from scratch and DIY a whole new bag. If you’re in need of a tote, you should “totes” check out these DIYs to find the perfect one to carry your stylish stuff.
1. Gold Dipped Tote: We love anything dipped in gold, and this leather bottomed bag is extra fancy and so easy to make that you’ll want to have one to go with every outfit! (via Brit + Co)
2. Notebook Canvas Tote: Dress up a plain canvas tote with hand embroidered lines. You could also totally make this with a sewing machine since canvas is a super easy fabric to sew on. (via Say Yes)
3. Tote Blanket: Made out of a bed sheet, this tote bag unfolds into a picnic blanket! We think this handy bag will quickly become your favorite for carrying around campus! (via Brit + Co)
4. Spotty Gold Tote Bag: It’s gold and mint and polka dotted! How could this not be the perfect tote? This tutorial uses a thrifted leather jacked for the material, but you could use leather scraps or go with vinyl for a vegan option. (via My Poppet)
5. Dip Dyed Summer Tote: Feeling nostalgic for summer days yet? Play around with some dip dying and make this easy and colorful tote bag. (via Whimsey Box)
6. Handwriting Tote: Embrace your own handwriting with this personalized tote. Quotes, lyrics and favorite thoughts look beautiful when handwritten, and they’re the perfect touch to a plain tote bag. (via Clones ‘n’ Clowns)
7. Neon Dipped Tote Bag: For the ultimate makeover, turn a canvas tote into a plastic one! Just use a plastic coating spray and go crazy with neon and ombre — two trends we’re still not tired of! (via Madigan Made)
8. Photography Totes: Immortalize your summer memories by putting photographs on a canvas tote bag. These would make amazing personalized gifts for friends and family! (via Latest Obsession)
9. Market Bag: If you have an old coffee bag or burlap bag sitting around, by all means make this rustic tote! Wouldn’t it just look perfect filled up with fresh veggies and flowers? (via The Merry Thought)
10. Embroidered Cat Tote Bag: Even if you’re not a cat lady, how cute is this kitty bag! If your tote has pockets, you could embroider all kinds of cute animals peeking out for the same effect. (via The Pink Samurai)
11. Tribal Details: This tutorial comes with a downloadable stencil, so you can cover your tote in colorful little arrows. Put them all over or create a cool symmetrical design. (via Little Yellow Couch)
12. Painted Totes: This tote is as easy as picking out your favorite color combo! The lines are hand painted and the gold base is just a quick coat of spray paint. (via Freutcake)
13. Honeymoon Beach Bag: This is the perfect travel bag! It’s big, sturdy and reversible so it will go with twice the number of outfits. (via Something Turquoise)
14. Iron-on Tote Bag: If words are your game and typography is your thing, then you’ll love how simple it is to apply print to tote! (via Alice and Lois)
15. Glitter Heart Tote: Show some serious love with this sparkly heart tote. These are a breeze to make and would be adorable bridesmaids gifts or little gift bags for a special party. (via Sarah Hearts)
16. Spray Dyed Totes: Spray dye is so much fun to play with that you’ll want a whole collection of totes sporting the look! You can experiment with light and dark colors, different patterns or tape off different sections for a cool color block look. (via Brit + Co)
17. Hashtag Bag: Whether you #lovethem or #hatethem, hashtags are totally trending right now/forever. You can add some serious personality to your bag with this clever DIY. (via Crafty Texas Girls)
18. Blanket Bag: Have an old blanket sitting around that you kind of want to upcycle? Make it into an adorable bag! Personally we think the brighter the blanket, the hotter the bag. (via Brit + Co)
19. Aztec Tote Bags: DIY your own stamps out of sponges for this rugged, boho look! You could plan out a design beforehand or just go stamp crazy and have fun creating a crazy pattern. (via Bespoke Bride)
20. Shibori: In case you haven’t heard, shibori is all the rage right now, not to mention super fun to experiment with. Jump on the trend with this easy to do, step-by-step tutorial. (via Brit + Co)
21. Weekend Tote: Pick a color palette and invite all your friends over for a tote making party. Each person can make a different style with the same hues, so you’ll all be same-same, but different. (via Brit + Co)
22. Chic Studded Tote: Add a little hardware bling, and you’re fabulous, darling. (via Brit + Co)
23. Stenciled Shopper: Dress up your boring shopping bags with this pretty stencil DIY. All those colors will look so pretty lined up in the back of your car! (via Happiness Is Creating)
24. Add Leather Straps: Repurposing is the bomb, and it’s so much fun when the revamp makes things look more expensive, like this DIY leather strapped tote bag. If you already have a bag that you love, just dress it up with some elegant leather handles to give it a whole new look. (via Sugar and Cloth)
25. Easter Tote Bag: Just because we made it as a grown-up Easter basket, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it all year round! The pretty floral pattern in the perfect accent to the soft gold dipped base. (via Brit + Co)
26. Printed Tote Bag: Have fun making patterns with geometric iron-on transfers. They are so easy you’ll want to make a bag for everyone. (via Make and Tell)
What kind of bag do you carry around the most? Do you tote or prefer something with more pockets? Talk to us in the comments below!
