Quick and Easy Custom Tote Bags - Iron-on Transfer

Kids often need a bag to cart things back and forth from school, items that don’t necessarily fit in their book bags. Sure you can buy them a bag or you can even sew one for them, but sometimes you want a mix of both. What do I mean by a mix of both? I mean the mix of the convenience of buying something ready to be used with a touch of handmade. This is were a tote bag with an iron-on transfer would be the perfect solution!

This post contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more). Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Quick and Easy Custom Tote Bags using Iron-on Transfers

Supplies:

Tote bag
Iron-on transfer
Iron
Pressing cloth (I got innovative and used a white t-shirt)
Ironing board

Instructions:

Step 1: When I removed the totes from the packaging, they had a lot of creases. I immediately ironed out all the creases to make sure the totes were nice and crisp.

Step 2: Following the instructions included with the iron transfers I purchased, I pre-heated the totes with my iron. (It’s important to follow the instructions that come with the iron transfers you buy. The steps my vary from one product to the other.)

Step 3: I placed the iron transfer in the desired location and placed the white t-shirt over it. (Had I had a pressing cloth, I would have used that.)

Step 4: Again, following the instructions on the packaging, I ironed over the t-shirt for the required time.

Step 5: The next step required to put the bag inside out. However, the totes I bought were thick and hard to turn inside out while keeping the iron transfer in place. To remedy the situation, I placed the t-shirt on the ironing board and then I put the front of the tote (where the transfer was placed) on top of the t-shirt. I then ironed it by placing my iron inside the opening of the tote.

Step 6: After letting the iron transfer cool, it was time to remove the plastic film.

And voilà, finished!

Custom Tote Bags with Iron-on Transfer

Didn’t they turn out beautifully? The girls and I each have our own. We each picked out the iron-on transfer we wanted at Michaels. Gabrielle has the peacock, Emanuelle has the hummingbirds, and I have the cow skull.. well, I think it’s a cow. haha

Have you every used iron-on transfers before? It was our first time and it definitely won’t be our last. The girls are already talking about t-shirts. hehe

Have a wonderful day my friends!