DIY Applique Shopping Bag

It's fun to customize a tote for a friend.  This was for my sister-in-law who has an adorable Basset Hound with a unique pickle-shaped tail.  These are so easy to make, you could make 5 or 6 and give them all to someone as a set, so they never have to use plastic bags again!

Get the How-To after the jump...

1.  First get your supplies together.  You'll need fabric, scissors, a sheet of fusible web, an iron, a needle, and some embroidery thread.  You can use any boring tote you have around the house or you can buy some, I stocked up on great colors for $.79 each at cheaptotes.com.

2.  First pick a shape and draw it on your fabric, or if you aren't so great at drawing, print out a picture, cut out the shape, and trace it onto your fabric.  Cut a big square around your shape (don't cut the actual shape out yet).

3.  Iron your fabric to one side of the fusible web.  Done with that?  Ok, now you can cut out your shape exactly how you want it to look.

4.  Place your shape on your bag, find just the perfect spot for it.  With the fabric right side up and the fusible web facing your bag, iron it on.  Doesn't it look cute?

5. You don't want your cute applique to fall off, so let's do a nice stitch around it.  Gives it some homemade charm too.  Use a blanket stitch, I didn't take any photos but here is a good tutorial to follow.

Now go shopping :)

I used Kokka Fabrics Solitude in Navy Snow Birds which you can still get at PurlSoho