Can't Find a Thing Bag - Simple Tote with Tassels

Thanks to Expressions Vinyl for providing vinyl for this post! This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Persia Lou!

Once upon a time, about a year ago, the fam and I were touring model homes for kicks, and hanging in one of the closets was this awesome tote bag. Well, honestly, it was just a plain tote bag, but on the front it said in big, bold letters, “I can’t find a thing in here.”

I looked at that bag and I thought “Bag, it’s like we were meant for each other.” And I wanted the bag. But I didn’t just take the bag because I’m not a criminal, guys. Geez.

Instead, I made one for myself a year and a half later when I got around to it like a normal person.

Let’s talk heat transfer vinyl for a sec. Have you guys tried this stuff before? When I first got my Silhouette, I was kind of afraid of vinyl, but I was wrong to be scared. WRONG. Vinyl is so, so easy to use. And heat transfer vinyl is truly the easiest way to make custom tote bags and t-shirts in minutes. (Minutes!)

I extra like getting my vinyl from Expressions Vinyl because they have like a bajillion colors and styles and you can buy it in smaller pieces. So if you have an idea for a sweet t-shirt with neon yellow lettering, you don’t have to buy a whole roll that you won’t use. So nice, right? (Oh, and – bonus! – there just happens to be a whole bunch of fun vinyl projects for you all at the end of this post. Keep scrolling!)

So yeah, HTV (that’s heat transfer vinyl, folks). It’s totally nice and easy, which also made this tote nice and easy.

Then, of course, I went and added some beaded tassels to my bag because they are AMAZING and also because around here we don’t ever do nothin’ nice and easy. (And then I spent half an hour watching Tina Turner videos on youtube, thank you internet.)

Anyway, want to make an awesome tote? Let’s do this!

Materials:

Large Canvas Tote
12×12″ Black Heat Transfer Vinyl
“I Can’t Find a Thing” Cut File
Silhouette Cameo or other Electronic Cutter
Embroidery Floss
Beads (I used some neon coral, turquoise, and silver beads)

Psst – If you are new to working with vinyl, check out Vinyl 101 – my beginner’s guide to working with vinyl right HERE.

Start by cutting the vinyl using your electronic cutter. My image is already mirrored for you, but if you are using a different image, be sure to flip it horizontally before cutting. Once it is cut, weeding out all the negative space.

Then iron the vinyl onto the bag. Use a piece of cotton fabric in between the iron and the plastic transfer sheet. Apply heat and pressure for about 20-30 seconds. When the vinyl has properly adhered, the plastic sheet should peel off easily leaving the vinyl attached to your bag! Woot!

To make tassels, begin by wrapping embroidery floss around your fingers several times until you have the thickness you want. Thread a long piece of embroidery floss through the top loop and tie with a double knot. Snip the bottom loop open. Tie another length of embroidery floss around your tassel just below the top knot. Wrap around several times, secure with a double knot, and trim off excess.

Thread a few beads onto the top strands if you like. I tied my three tassels together and then tied them to a jump ring attached to a key ring, which I slid onto the bag’s handle. They are easy to remove if I want.

Yay for a new tote bag!

Looking for more vinyl project inspiration? I’ve gotcha covered! Just click this link to check out all my friend’s awesome sauce projects: An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Making!