Spring Painted Tote bag

I taught this tote bag class today at Scrapbook Centrale. I wanted to show it here, as I have mentioned it to a few people. As always, if you click on the photos you can get a larger view.

The main part of the bag was painted with Studio acrylic paint, which I watered down with tap water. It helps to get the paint flowing more readily, which allows you to a) make the paint go a lot further and b) get a more water colour look. It's also easier to get it into all the nooks and crannies. I didn't actually add water to the paint - I added water to the brush and the bag. Messy, but easy to do.


The flowers were created with grunge paper (grunge board is too thick for the dimensional flowers). I coloured them with Distress Ink, and sealed the ink with Multi Medium, making it water proof. Yup - this whole bag can go in the washing machine. The large dimensional flowers are attached with safety pins, because they would likely lose their shape in the washer. Everything else is sewed on.


The flat flowers were embossed with a cuttlebug folder, for a little added texture. I love texture.

I stamped a quote using StazOn ink. The large flower images were stamped with acrylic paint, using a Donna Downey foam stamp.


Once all these products are completely dry, the tote can be heat set in the dryer - just leave it in there for a full cycle. After that, it's safe to wash it by machine. I normally turn it inside out, and wash in cold water. It's fun to use our scrapbooking supplies on something other than scrap pages - I hope you will try it!

Supplies:
canvas tote bag
paints (tote) - Studio Acrylic Paint (by Ranger) in "Painterly Pink" and "Classic Teal"
paints (large stamps) - Adirondack Paint Dabber (by Ranger) in "Willow" and "White"
ink (quote stamp) - StazOn in "Jet Black"
ink (flowers/leaves) - Distress Ink (by Ranger) in "Worn Lipstick", "Wild Honey" and "Peeled Paint"
sealant on the flowers - Studio Multi Medium Matte (by Ranger)
adhesive on dimensional flowers - Ranger Glossy Accents
flowers & leaves all created with Tim Holtz Grunge Paper
buttons - Tim Holtz Idea-ology
embossing folders - by Cuttlebug
flower dies - by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
quote stamps - by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous
flower stamps - by Donna Downey for Prima Marketing