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We love any reason to watercolor, so it’s high time we brought you this DIY Fabric Watercolor Tote Kit. Tote bags and the beach go hand in hand, so why not spice up your go-to beach bag with a sunny sentiment or two? We’ll show you tips and tricks to give your tote a dreamy, watercolor makeover AND show you how to use a super watercolor resist. You definitely won’t have to worry about someone rocking the same bag as you.
Resident DIY extraordinaire and swimsuit model Kelly is really working this tote.
Plus, this tote is extra roomy, so you can throw all of your beach essentials into one bag!
Materials (kit available in our shop!):
— fabric watercolor
— tote bag
— resist
— brush
Materials (not included in our kit):
— scrap cardboard
— water cup
Get your materials together (or purchase a kit!), and let’s get started!
Instructions:
1. Sketch out your design on paper.
2. Copy your design in resist directly onto the tote bag. Allow the resist to dry for 24 hours before painting.
3. Working in small sections, apply a water wash over your resist. You should see your design resisting the water.
4. Apply the watercolor directly onto the tote and blend with a wet brush.
5. For best results, try painting around the resist. The resist will repel a good amount of the watercolor, but too much moisture will saturate the material underneath, leading to color bleeding.
6. Allow the tote to dry completely before use. Throw it into the dryer or iron it to permanently set the watercolor.
Sketch your design onto paper. All this happy sunshine here in San Francisco made “Summer Vibes” feel like an obvious choice :)
When you’re happy with your design, move onto the tote. Using the resist, copy your design directly onto the tote.
Go back over parts of your design to create a mix of line weights. Allow the resist to dry for 24 hours before painting.
Insert a piece of cardboard into the tote to protect the other side. The key to fabric watercolor is to work in small sections. Apply a water wash over the resist. You should see your design repelling the water!
Squeeze the fabric watercolor directly onto the tote. The resist will repel most of the watercolor, but work around the resist for best results. Over-saturating the canvas can lead to color bleeding.
Use a wet brush to blend the watercolors together.
Allow the tote to dry completely before use. Throw it into the dryer or iron it to permanently set the watercolor.
A basic ombre design is equally as awesome :)
Now hit the beach with your sweet new tote! The sun’s got nothing on these summer vibes.
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Model: Kelly Bryden
