DIY Canvas Shopping Bags

Okay, I am finally catching up on blogging so look forward to a bunch of posts for the next day or so.  I thought I should start with Mother's Day since it was like forever ago.  I saw a couple tutorials online for personalizing reusable shopping bags as an idea for a mother's day gift.  I thought it was a really good idea so I went to the store to grab a couple plain canvas bags to fancy up.  Every single one I found was too small, and made out of a really flimsy material.  I mean, they would work, but just weren't what I was imagining.  Luckily I got this mother's day present a little early and it had a pattern for making your own reusable shopping bags.  Score!  I bought some canvas and got to work

Here's the plain canvas bag all finished.  It took me about an hour to make, and that's with Lucas running around.  It was really easy.

 Next I got some fabric paint to personalize them.  I cut out a stencil using my silhouette and some vinyl.

The vinyl didn't stick that well, but it was good enough if I was careful with it.  I mixed some green and blue till I got the perfect shade.

 And then I painted the bag.

Then peel off the vinyl and let it dry for a day.

This one was for my mom.  I made one for my mother in law too...

And then had just enough fabric left over to make a mini one for Lucas.

He loves having a bag to put his toys and snacks in when we get in the car.  I need to go back and get some more fabric so I can make one for myself now.