NSR but crafty : Embellishing a Backpack?

stayawake

stayawake

New member
My daughter starts Jr. Kindergarten in September. She needs a 'large backpack', and we'll be walking every day in all kinds of weather. I am NOT going to buy her one of the character bags at Walmart, etc. and have decided instead on the Lands End Jr. in a dark purple. (she LOVES purple). But I'd love to make it cute and fun and different from the other kids bags.

Do you have any ideas for embellishing a backpack? Do I try iron ons? Making a monogram of cute fabric? Zipper pulls? You know, scrapping has got me onto embellishing everything. :)

I'd LOVE your ideas girls!
 
what about some patches from the craft store? Or fabric paint. I did a denim jacket for my daughter that had the powerpuff girls on it. I painted all three on the back with fabric paint and a paint brush (drew them with permanent marker first) She got alot of compliments on the jacket too
 
that sounds like a fun idea! Chloe has a backpack picked out at Target, but i wonder if she'd prefer a customized one instead! i'd probably find some patches, and probably some glittery fabric paint, some gems glued on (did that to her Hello Kitty bp last year) and some fun zipper pulls. i'll have to browse Hobby Lobby, lol.
 
Fun idea! No tips, just had to add that my oldest dd has had her Lands' End backpack for three school years now and it's still going strong! I'm going to finally break down and get her a new one this year just because she's tired of pink. :p
 
Hmm, we don't have a Hobby Lobby up here in Canada, but we do have a Michaels. I would like to find something that not *everyone* has. I'm thinking of using fusible webbing to cut flower shapes out of some pretty fabric I have and fusing it the backpack - like an iron on transfer. But I wonder how long that would stay on?
 
stayawake said:
Hmm, we don't have a Hobby Lobby up here in Canada, but we do have a Michaels. I would like to find something that not *everyone* has. I'm thinking of using fusible webbing to cut flower shapes out of some pretty fabric I have and fusing it the backpack - like an iron on transfer. But I wonder how long that would stay on?
Click to expand...

thats a good idea! i made the girls some curtains about 2 years ago and instead of sewing (cause i dont' know how, lol) i used some of that hem tape that you iron and those curtains are still holding up even after washing them. i don't know how well they'd stay on a backpack that gets banged around. it may work!
 
yeah you can use that iron on fusing backed on fabric, then cut it out and iron it on, then give it a quick stitch w/ a sewing machine (or hand stitch).

or you could do some cute keychain thingys that hang on the zipper pulls and what not.

i made a few for my dd last year like this:

lreid-bptag-prev.jpg


i just printed off my design on printable shrink plastic, cut it out and baked it off!

easy peasy!

have fun!
 
Lauren Reid said:
yeah you can use that iron on fusing backed on fabric, then cut it out and iron it on, then give it a quick stitch w/ a sewing machine (or hand stitch).

or you could do some cute keychain thingys that hang on the zipper pulls and what not.

i made a few for my dd last year like this:

lreid-bptag-prev.jpg


i just printed off my design on printable shrink plastic, cut it out and baked it off!

easy peasy!

have fun!
Click to expand...

Lauren that is so cute! so creative!

that would be such a fun hybrid thing to try... I've never heard of printable shrink plastic tho. I'm out of the loop!
 
thank you! yeah i did this as a hybrid feature for DAM last year. ;)

and you can find the printable shrink plastic at Hobby Lobby (or Michaels) near the scrap stuff ;)

xo
 
Great idea, Lauren! I wanted to get a Lands End backpack for DS for kindergarten, but I know once he sees the other kids' bags he'd wonder why his was plain. Shrink plastic zipper pulls made from some of my digi supplies would be perfect!
 
stayawake said:
Hmm, we don't have a Hobby Lobby up here in Canada, but we do have a Michaels. I would like to find something that not *everyone* has. I'm thinking of using fusible webbing to cut flower shapes out of some pretty fabric I have and fusing it the backpack - like an iron on transfer. But I wonder how long that would stay on?
Click to expand...

DO NOT buy the patch glue that the Boy Scouts sell! argghhh what a mess... washed the backpack and had patches floating on the top of the water! left an awful residue but wouldn't hold the patches. Personally I would just rent a good movie and sit down with a needle and thread and tack them on. Not a lot of sewing...that way you can change the patches as her tastes change.

brianbackpack.jpg


I added fire truck buttons to the ends of the zipper pulls that I found later. I am pretty sure this isn't what you are looking for...but maybe it will give you some inspiration! It's fun! ...and everyone knows WHOSE backpack it is (not accidental take homes!)... ;)
 
thanks girls, I'm going to buy this backpack, either way. It's a dark plum. My daughter LOVES purple anything, so I don't think it will disappoint her. And then I'm planning on using some fusible interfacing that I have to fuse a strip of fabric - something from Moda's new Santorini line here
yhst-47772549180253_2058_9517193
to the bottom pocket. Then I'll stitch over it by hand. I have some amazing flower graphics from here that I love. I don't have the printable shrink plastic, just the regular kind, but either way from that or from fabric I want to make a cute zipper pull or two. :) Thanks girls for all the tips!
 
My dd just got her Lands End backpack in the mail yesterday and squealed... she loves it. We got the big one in blue plaid. I know they can not only monogram it with names or numbers but they also have a couple designs. You may want to look into what they offer.

Besides that, try looking at Walmart in the sewing/crafting aisle or likewise, a local sewing shop. Then your dd can pick out a cool patch herself. Even if it was an iron on, I'd give it a couple stitches to ensure that it stuck around kwim? I'm y no means a seamstress but I could manage a couple horrible stitches with a needle. LOL
 
i'm pretty good at handstitching, lol. i used to make my own barbie clothes when i was a kid! Chloe has her eyes on a cute backpack at Target with a matching lunchbox though, lol.
 
see, if we HAD Target up here, it might be a different story. I'm just going to be a backpack snob and say no to all the dora, my little pony and bratz backpacks out there. Sorry. No. :)
I'm fine with a needle and thread myself, so I'm kind of excited about this. :) I'm sure it would void the warrenty if I did anything to the pack, and of course, I'm a little nervous about completely destroying it...

Corey - do you have a link for the backpack you're getting Cloe?
 
Chloe likes this one, the blue one with the frog. its really cute so we'll probably just get it, lol.

however, for her penci box for school i have an old cigar box that i'm going to decorate! i'm so excited.
 
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