Canvas Bag Art Ideas for a Teacher
Show gratitude for all that your child's teachers do by giving them a canvas bag for Teacher Appreciation Day in May or the holidays. Teachers can use the bags to carry their lesson plans, books or lunches to school. Or they can use them outside of school as beach bags or grocery totes. Make the bags special and personalized by decorating them with craft supplies.
-
Fabric Paint
-
Make the canvas bag one of a kind by using fabric paint. Wash the bag without fabric softener and let it dry before beginning the craft to ensure the paint adheres to the fabric. Get your kids involved in the craft. Choose an nontoxic fabric paint, paint your child’s hand and then have her decorate the bag with handprints. Or decorate the bag with common school symbols, such as an apple, books, bells and pencils. Paint these pictures freehand or use stencils.
Iron-on Appliques
-
Add color and interest to a plain canvas bag with iron-on appliques. Purchase these appliques from craft stores or online retailers, or make one yourself using iron-on transfer paper, also available at craft stores. Scan one of your child’s drawings into the computer and print it out onto the transfer paper. Cut out the image and position it on the canvas bag, face down. Set the iron on high, no stream; iron the design onto the bag. After it has had time to cool, peel off the paper.
-
Names
-
Monogram the canvas bag with the teacher’s initials or spell out her title and surname, such as Ms. Smith. For the letters, choose a fabric with a pattern or one that contrasts against the color of the canvas bag. You can also construct the letters out of felt or craft foam. Sew the letters on or attach them with fabric glue. Make the canvas a memento of that school year by writing the name of every child in the class on the bag using permanent markers.
Other Ideas
-
Sew on patches that represent the teacher’s interests, such as teaching, reading, music, sports or art. Have your child draw a picture on the bag using permanent markers. Add a little sparkle and shine to the bag by outlining letters, appliques, patches or pictures with glitter or rhinestones. Trim the bag with ribbon or fringe. Create a design on the bag by sewing on buttons, pom-poms or gluing on googly eyes.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
