DIY Shopping Bag: Customize Reusable Shopping Bags

Create a DIY shopping bag in just a few minutes with your Cricut Explore Air and your favorite color of Cricut vinyl!

If you are looking for a way to make reusable bags that don’t involve a sewing machine, then you will love today’s project! That is because I am showing you how you can customize foldable shopping bags using your Cricut machine and some scraps of vinyl!

{FTC disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. This post also contains affiliate links so I may make a small commission if you buy something!}

BEFORE WE START OUR DIY SHOPPING BAG, LET’S TALK ABOUT REUSABLE BAGS:

If you look up DIY reusable bags on Google, you will most likely get an amazing sewing project that includes some free patterns!

Now, as much as I appreciate sewing, it’s not my go-to craft. Also, in regards to sewing reusable bags or grocery totes, I’m not too eager to break out my rotary cutters, cut out fabric pieces, try to sew in a straight line, figure out the corners of the bag, add a top stitch, etc. Plus, let’s not even talk about adding handle pieces to the top of the bag. – I don’t know about you, but I’m already exhausted just thinking about all this sewing work – LOL!

Thank goodness, whether it’s a big box store, a small business, or even the farmers’ market, you can find inexpensive shopping bags almost everywhere! This is great because it makes this project super easy to recreate, and the best thing of all is that you don’t have to pick up a sewing needle! However, before you start crafting away, it’s important that you have the ”right bag” for this project. 

LET’S TALK ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT BAG:

As most of you already know, reusable bags can come in different fabrics, depending on the retailer who is selling them. Most of the main fabric for your traditional style of foldable reusable grocery bags are made from thick plastic, canvas, and polyester. All of these fabrics are ideal for Cricut vinyl and would work great for this project. With that in mind, I would stay away from bags that are thin in material or feel super cheap. 

Along with the different fabrics, you also have different patterns (which of course makes starting your own reusable grocery bags collection fun). Unfortunately, for this project, we don’t want a crazy pattern. Instead, you want to pick a reusable shopping bag pattern that is minimal in look. For example, a solid color, stripes, dots, or a bag that has some type of negative space. This is because you want to be able to see the vinyl phrase or image you are adding to the bag.

With all the different types of bags out there, I know you can easily find one for this project at a great price! – The navy and gold bag I am using today, I found at Staples for only $1.00!!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Reusable Bag
• Phrase for bag made with Cricut
• Cricut Explore Air
• Gold Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Cricut StrongGrip Mat
• Cricut XL Scraper
• Cricut Weeder
• Scissors

HOW TO MAKE DIY SHOPPING BAG – CUSTOMIZE A REUSABLE SHOPPING BAG:

1. The first step is to create your saying or image in Cricut Design Space. 

For this project, I created my “happy to be here” saying in Cricut Design Space. I cut two sayings because I wanted to put it on both sides of the bag, but if you only want to have a saying on one side, you can easily “hide” the other saying before you cut.

Want to make this yourself? I shared the project here.

NOTE: If you are not a fan of this design, then check out our FREE SVG files! An SVG file is the perfect solution for decorating your foldable grocery bag without having to do any ”design work”. Plus, it’s a great way to customize your bag if you are in a time crunch because all you need to do is download the file, resize it, and cut it! To check out all of our SVG files, which range from holidays to special occasions and general themes, click here! 

NOTE: For this project, I chose to go with a simple phrase for my bag design. However, you could choose a more intricate pattern that involves adding vinyl to the top edge of the bag, the handle fabric, or even the bottom of the bag. The possibilities are endless, so just have fun making your bags.

2. The next step is to cut out your saying and add transfer tape. 

I cut out my saying with my Cricut Explore Air on Gold Vinyl, then added transfer tape to the entire project BEFORE cutting the sayings apart. Once the transfer tape was on, I used my scissors to separate the sayings.

3. After cutting, peel the backing from the saying (be sure that the vinyl has transferred to the tape), and place it on the right sides of the bag.

4. When you have your vinyl in place, use your Cricut XL Scraper to transfer the vinyl to the tote bag.

As far as I’m concerned, the Cricut XL Scraper is the greatest tool that has ever happened to me! I used it to help the vinyl transfer to the tape, and then again to transfer the vinyl to the tote bag. It is a HUGE help and is more than double the size of the standard Cricut Scraper!

NOTE: Before doing this step, make sure the outside of the bag (on both sides) is clean. This is because you don’t want any dirt or lint to interfere with your vinyl. To wipe down the bag, you can use a lint roller or an antibacterial wipe.

NOTE: To get the best transfer possible, make sure your reusable bag or grocery shopping bag is lying flat and that the handles are not caught inside the bag. This is all I did to add my vinyl, but you could place something sturdy inside the bag, like cardboard, to give you more support when you are adding the vinyl to the bag.

5. Peel off the transfer tape and repeat steps 2-5 on the opposite side of the bag.

On your next shopping trip, you can be the fanciest person at the grocery store! Or Target. Or wherever. But you’ll look good! – LOL

I won’t lie, this DIY shopping bag project is so addictive! I already have several other ideas in mind for other bags and totes. However, as much as I love food and shopping, you don’t have to use this project for just those things. For instance, you could also use this project to create bags (both big and small) for the following events: 

• Birthday Party, Baby Shower, Anniversary Celebration
  • They could be filled with party favors and have some type of phrase or theme from the party on them. 
• Wedding Events
  • They could have the names of the bridal party on them or have phrases like the following:
    • ”I Do Crew”, ”Bride Tribe”,”Team Bride”, ”Bride Squad”. etc.
• Holiday Parties
  • Think how cute these would be to fill up for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Galentine’s Day!

I hope this project got you inspired to do a little crafting! Also, if you make this project, tag me on social media @thekingstonhome, so I can see your amazing bag recreation!

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DIY Shopping Bag: Customize Reusable Shopping Bags

Create a DIY shopping bag in just a few minutes with your Cricut Explore Air and your favorite color of Cricut vinyl!

Author: Beth Kingston

Materials

• Reusable Bag
• Phrase for bag made with Cricut
• Cricut Explore Air
• Gold Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Cricut StrongGrip Mat
• Cricut XL Scraper
• Cricut Weeder
• Scissors

Instructions

• The first step is to create your saying or image in Cricut Design Space. 

  For this project, I created my “happy to be here” saying in Cricut Design Space. I cut two sayings because I wanted to put it on both sides of the bag, but if you only want to have a saying on one side, you can easily “hide” the other saying before you cut.
• The next step is to cut out your saying and add transfer tape. 

  I cut out my saying with my Cricut Explore Air on Gold Vinyl, then added transfer tape to the entire project BEFORE cutting the sayings apart. Once the transfer tape was on, I used my scissors to separate the sayings.
• After cutting, peel the backing from the saying (be sure that the vinyl has transferred to the tape), and place it on the right sides of the bag.
• When you have your vinyl in place, use your Cricut XL Scraper to transfer the vinyl to the tote bag.

  Also, on a side note, as far as I’m concerned, the Cricut XL Scraper is the greatest tool that has ever happened to me! I used it to help the vinyl transfer to the tape (in step 2), and then again to transfer the vinyl to the tote bag (in step 4). It is a HUGE help and is more than double the size of the standard Cricut Scraper!

  NOTE: Before doing this step, make sure the outside of the bag (on both sides) is clean. This is because you don’t want any dirt or lint to interfere with your vinyl. To wipe down the bag, you can use a lint roller or ait bacterial wipe, depending on the material of the bag.

  NOTE: To get the best transfer possible, make sure your reusable bag or grocery shopping bag is lying flat, and that handles are not caught inside the bag. This is all I did to add my vinyl, but you could place something sturdy inside the bag, like cardboard, to give you more support when you are adding the vinyl to the bag.
• Peel off the transfer tape and repeat steps 2-5 on the opposite side of the bag.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BLOG POST THAT FEATURES AN EASY-CRICUT PROJECT, THEN CHECK OUT THE ONE BELOW!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.