I hosted some friends in Palm Springs for my birthday this year and I wanted to put together a little gift bag for guests. We ended up making these tote bags that came together really easily last minute. I thought I would share more details here since I think they would work well for favors or even weddings if your guest list was small enough.

I wanted to make a bunch of tote bags where each bag had something from my life. Either a phrase I say all the time or a memory or things I love or believe in. We bought some blank tote bags and some fabric paint and Paul painted these for me. (I prefer his handwriting to mine, I always feel like mine looks too cute-sy.) He took a sign painting class a few months back and that definitely helped with some of the more difficult sans serif type. It took one evening to finish them all. We filled them with sunscreen and snacks and gifts for our guests to use during the weekend.

Materials Needed: Blank Tote Bags, Fabric Paint , Large and Small Paint Brushes with a chisled flat end, paper towels, cardstock, cups.

Step 1: After you decide what you want to print set up the bag on a flat surface with a piece of cardstock in the bag so the paint doesn’t leak through.
Step 2: Sketch out the phrase or drawing with a pencil or brush on a piece of paper so you can reference the spacing while you paint.
Step 3: Put the paint in a cup and mix in a little bit of water to thin it out so it is a nice consistency. You don’t want it watery but also not thick.
Step 4. As you paint try to do each part of the letter in one stroke (for example an ‘A’ would be done in three strokes.) Between most of your strokes wipe the excess paint on brush on a paper towel. This will make your letters look nice and crisp.
Step 5. After it dries, heat set with an iron. Voila! You’re finished.

all photos by Oh Happy Day