Handmade Owl Backpack

Most students use mass produced backpacks for school.

Make an owl themed backpack for a special person in your life. Adults will appreciate the whimsy of a handmade owl backpack, and children can take the pack to school and enjoy standing out in a sea of sameness. Owl backpacks make an appropriate gift item for someone who wants to make a fashion statement or who has a fondness for owls. Use common materials to create or embellish a backpack with an owl theme or create your own owl-shaped backpack.

Felt Embellishment

Use felt to embellish a backpack to look like an owl. Use a brown or beige backpack as the base. Cut round eyes for the owl out of white felt and a cut a brown or black felt circle to serve as the pupil. Also cut a burnt orange-colored beak. Sew or hot glue the pieces onto the outward facing side of the backpack. Cut brown felt to use as wings and sew or hot glue them to the sides of the backpack.

Knit Backpack

Wash an old knit sweater in hot water to tighten the fibers. Cut two "U" two shapes out of the material and lay the pieces so the right sides are facing each other and sew around the rounded edges. Leave the top portion open and turn it right-side out. Sew Velcro tabs to each side of the opening as a closure. Secure one end of a strap to the top of the bag on one side and the other end to the bottom. Repeat for the other side. Cut eyes and beak out of felt and sew them to the outside facing portion of the bag. Cut and sew felt wings to the sides of the bag.

Fabric Paint

Buy or make a simple backpack. To make a backpack, cut two like shapes out of solid colored fabric and sew them together inside out. Leave an opening on top, turn the bag right-side out and add straps. Use fabric paint to create an owl image on the outside of the bag. Use a stencil for greater accuracy.

Handmade Owl Backpack Ideas

Create an owl graphic with a computer graphics program. Print the image onto iron-on transfer paper and iron the image onto a handmade backpack. Another way of creating an owl backpack is to cut an owl shape out of brown felt. Cut feathers out of felt and sew them to the bird along with googly eyes and a piece of felt that looks like a beak. Or simply add real feathers to the bird. Sew the owl onto a backpack to embellish it.

References

• Craft Ideas: Child's Drawstring Backpack

Resources

• Sewing