Customize a Tote Bag with Paint
Want to paint a tote bag with paint? Then follow our tips in this blog post to easily customize a Japanese cherry tree or any pattern or design.
Tools for painting on a tote bag
What paint should I use to paint a tote bag?
If you want to paint on a canvas tote bag, there are many textile paints with pre-mixed colors such as pink to make cherry blossoms. These paints are water-resistant and do not fade when washed.
For the application to be more effective, we recommend heating the paint in a dryer so that the color adheres completely to the fibers of the fabric.
What material do you need to customize a tote bag?
Gather the paints of the colors you want, equip yourself with a brush, a paint marker if you wish and a textile primer or white paint so that the color stands out.
We also recommend positioning a rigid and flat support inside. This will keep the tote bag flat to draw and prevent the paint from going through the canvas and staining the inside of the bag. Take a piece of cardboard for this, for example.
How to apply paint to a tote bag?
It’s time to customize your tote bag with cherry blossoms. Follow the steps on the blog and in the video to successfully make this beautiful Japanese tree!
Prevent paint from bleeding
We recommend applying undercoats if you want to prevent the paint from overflowing or if you plan to bring out your colors later.
For a stencil: apply 2 undercoats of white textile primer.
For hand painting: one coat of standard white paint is enough to bring out the colors. Paint the shape of the tree or your drawing to go over it later.
The difference between these two products is that the textile primer is thicker and does not overflow in a stencil compared to standard paint.
Drawing a Japanese cherry tree
In this article we chose to draw a Japanese cherry tree freehand, but you are free to paint whatever you like.
Start by adding the colors of the cherry blossoms on your undercoat.
Put the lightest colors first and finish with the darkest colors to create the shadows more easily.
Let dry between each layer and each color, for 15 minutes or using the dryer 30 seconds to save time.
Once you have painted your flowers, you can trace the branches using a marker that can be filled in yourself as shown precisely in the video.
Protect your customization on tote bag
Apply a finishing varnish
Being a paint that is resistant over time, the varnishing step is not mandatory. However, it can bring a little extra to the final rendering on the cherry blossoms. If you choose a matte varnish, the creation will appear more natural while with a glossy varnish, the colors will be more eye-catching.
To apply the varnish, you need a completely clean brush, dip it in the varnish and spread it on your drawing in thin layers. 1 to 2 layers are enough then let dry for 24 hours.
How to wash your tote bag?
In order to maintain your tote bag, it is possible to waterproof it first. This will allow it to be more resistant to everyday life and the trials of life.
To maintain a certain durability, washing a tote bag is precise. Soak your tote bag in lukewarm water to check that it does not discolor. If it remains intact, then put it in the machine on a delicate cycle and cold (30 ° C) and if you have the opportunity, clean it by hand. This last tip keeps the colors of the cherry blossoms more flamboyant even if the paintings resist a hot wash.
Now that you know how to customize your tote bag with paint you can strut around town, to the beach and even go shopping!
The paint will withstand all activities and all weather.
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