DIY Little Tote Bag

One thing that I don’t think is really communicated to a first time mom is the bag you will need AFTER the diaper bag.

The diaper bag fits a great season where you have lots of diapers, wipes, bibs, bottles, baby food, and rattles that need to be carted around. It is crucial to a mom’s ability to leave the house. There is a phase afterwards where you don’t need to carry as much, but you certainly don’t want your purse to weigh a 100 pounds either. I think of this phase as the little tote bag stage. Reagan is currently there, and I made her a few for Christmas. In this bag I can throw her favorite little toys that she wants to carry at all times, her favorite blankie for long errand times in the van, and even an extra set of underwear and leggings…just in case she has a potty training accident.

The bag is cute. It is almost like a purse to her, but it is multi functional for me too. I think this bag is an essential. I made Reagan a few by embellishing an existing canvas bag. You can do the same to personalize yours in a way to customize it for your child.

Start with getting a canvas bag that you like the size and shape. I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but I think this bag
is pretty cute too with the closure feature.

I found a bunch of scrap fabric that I liked and I started just cutting to make some fun embellishments.

Once I had my embellished pieces, I simply stuffed it all through my sewing machine to attach them to my bag. One thing to be careful is you don’t sew through both sides of your bag, otherwise you wont be able to open it! You can applique your embellished pieces on with fusible web, if you want. This step would help make it much easier. I was too impatient to do it the right way. 🙂

I ended up adding some fun ribbon for another texture and look to one of my bags. I had a little gap open space at one end of this design so I sewed on a button to make it prettier. Also, I used a lighter and slightly burned the ends of my ribbon to keep them from fraying.

My bags were then done! They were so simple to embellish and create something fun and useful while still looking cute. Reagan loves to draw so I have one set up with art supplies to go and the other has her spare little travel size blanket.

I know these bags will get a lot of use, and I am excited to give them to her! If you saw my Handmade Gift Guide, we can add this little project to that list. I think this is a great, meaning full gift to give a child. Sticking in it something they love doesn’t hurt either ;).

Thank you so much for checking in! I am so excited to let you know that registration for my January Spoonful Tribe membership opens tomorrow! If you are just checking in, you can find more information on this system here. I will be announcing the craft and you can check out my creations of it to inspire you as you order yours!!