It may have taken a while, but people are finally switching out disposable plastic bags for reusable ones. This, of course, opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to promotional material since jute, canvas and cotton tote bags are incredibly easy to customise.
So, if you’ve gotten your fair share of printed canvas bags from tradeshows, conferences, etc., then you’re probably wondering how to personalise your custom bag to fit your style. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!
Best Customisation Techniques
There are, in fact, a variety of different ways to customise your canvas bag to its full potential. For example, you can opt for DIY stamping, fabric stitching, gold/silver foil designs, patchwork, or polka dots.
Note: These are just some of the simplest design suggestions to get you started. Once you customise your first canvas bag, there’s no doubt you’ll be looking for more ideas to try out!
DIY Stamping Technique
If this technique seems familiar, there’s a good chance you’ve done it before when you were in preschool. So, obviously, it’s quite simple!
First, you will need to choose a design you would like to add to your bag. This could be anything from a star shape to a more intricate design. Ultimately, what you choose will depend on your drawing skills. But if this is your first DIY bag project, it’s best to start out with some simple shapes such as flowers, stars, various fruits, etc.
Pro tip: If you have a design in mind, but you’re not much of an artist, you can search for the image online, print it out and create your own stencil.
Next, you need to find a potato large enough to carve your shape into, and cut that potato in half. If you have a stencil, place it onto your potato and trace out the shape using something sharp.
Once you do so, you will need to cut the potato around the shape. For reference, you will be turning your potato into a stamp. Then, choose a colour and paint the shape on your stamp with it.
Finally, choose the placement of your stamp. This is the part where you get to let your imagination run wild!
Gold Transfer Foil Technique
Gold will never go out of style, and neither will your bag if you use this technique. Here are the supplies you will need:
- Foil transfer adhesive
- Gold transfer foil
- A paintbrush
- An iron
- Scissors
- Paper plate
- Parchment paper
First, decide what kind of design you would like to transfer onto your bag. You can use a bit of coloured chalk to draw an outline if needed. The great thing about this technique is that you basically can’t go wrong whatever you choose to do. You can even add lines, squiggles or basically, any kind of shape and your bag will look stunning.
Then, place a bit of glue onto the paper plate. Use your brush to apply the glue to your bag. Allow the glue to dry for approximately 30 seconds, and then add a sheet of gold transfer foil over the glue. Remember to place the silver side down.
Next, take your parchment paper and place it on top of the gold foil. Iron the parchment paper for approximately 20 seconds. Finally, let the paper and foil cool down completely before peeling away the foil.
Note: You will need to let the foil cure for 72 hours before you use the bag.
Fabric Stitching Technique
One of the easiest customisation techniques is fabric stitching. If sewing is your forte, then you can go ahead and grab a needle and some string for this DIY project. But if you’re not, don’t worry. You can just as easily use fabric glue instead.
First of all, gather some colourful fabrics. Then, decide which shapes you would like to cut them into. For example, leaves and flowers are always a great idea for beginners. Now all you have to do is cut out your desired shapes, and glue them onto the canvas bag. It’s as simple as that!
Note: Let your glue dry for at least 48 hours before using the bag.
Polka Dot Technique
Alright, so maybe this is the easiest DIY on the list! All you need are fabric or acrylic colours (whichever you prefer). Dip the rubber end of an old pencil into the paint, and use it as a stamp in order to create polka-dots on your bag.
You can use a combination of colours or just one colour (it’s completely up to you).
Patches Technique
So, this idea isn’t exactly a technique, but rather a fun way to spruce up your bag. For this, you will need to purchase some iron-on patches of your choice. Then, arrange them onto your canvas bag, and apply heat from the iron until the patches are completely glued onto your tote.
Note: You will need to read the instructions on the patches, as instructions may vary.
Related content:
Promotional Canvas Totes – The Perfect Combination of Style and Utility
Why Use Canvas Bags to Promote Your Brand?
There are many benefits to choosing canvas bags as your main promotional material. Namely, they are quite sturdy, as they feature an amazing strength-to-weight ratio. This means that they are highly durable yet surprisingly lightweight.
Ultimately, you can carry heavy items for years and years, without worrying about any wear and tear. Furthermore, since they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, canvas bags are perfect for carrying things such as books, groceries, clothes, etc.
Equally important, canvas bags are easy to clean, which is yet another reason why they’re perfect for both you and your customers.
Final Thoughts on How to Customise a Canvas Bag
After reading all these DIY customisation ideas, hopefully, you’re ready to get started on your very own project!
As you can see, canvas bags are easy to work with, and whichever idea you end up using there’s no doubt that your bag will look gorgeous. All you need are a few supplies and a whole lot of imagination!
And best of all, once you create your very own DIY canvas bag, you’ll be able to use it for any occasion!
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Branded Non-Woven Bags – The “It” Marketing Tool
Contact GoPromotional at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today, and let’s start your newest marketing journey in style! You may also browse our full collection of custom branded bags which includes cotton totes, jute bags, non-woven bags, travel bags, and sports bags. We are sure you will find what you are looking for!
