How to Make a Seashell Stamped Tote Bag

How to Make a Seashell Stamped Tote Bag

A seashell stamped tote bag is a perfect summer craft that comes together quickly, so you’ll be throwing your beach-day essentials in it in no time!

 

The supply list for a seashell tote bag is relatively short, and you may even have supplies on hand. I’ve included recommendations and tips for supplies, and you can find a quick supply list further down the page.

 

I've listed some suggested supplies you can use in this project. As an Amazon Associate I can earn from qualifying purchases of craft supplies linked in this blog post.

 

The Tote Bag

I recommend a linen or cotton tote bag for this project. Make sure to pre-wash your tote bag to remove any oils. If your bag gets wrinkly in the wash, press it with an iron before you begin painting. This is the simple linen bag I used, and it comes in packs perfect for crafting with friends, or if you want a tote bag with more structure, consider this tote with a flat base section.

 

Paint & Brushes

You can purchase paint made specifically for fabrics such as this set from Tulip, or you can turn acrylic paint into fabric paint with a fabric medium. Alternatively, you can make fabric paint with acrylic paint, water and fabric softener. This approach is great for using what you have on hand, but your shell painting may be more prone to cracking after a few washes.

 

To turn acrylic paint into fabric paint, the recipe is 2 parts acrylic paint with 1 part liquid fabric softener.

 

As for brushes, I recommend sponge brushes like this set. Choose a brush size appropriate for your size seashells to help you apply the paint easily.

 

Scallop Seashells

The best shell for this project is a scallop shell because of the ribs (bumpy ridges) that create pretty lines when stamped on your tote bag. If you don’t have scallop seashells lying around from your last beach trip, you can purchase scallop shells at most large craft retailers or online. This shell set would work well if you’d like your tote bag to have large shell prints. You can use any size shell for this project or even a variety of sizes.

Supplies for a Seashell Stamped Tote Bag

 

 

Supplies

Additional Recommended Items

  • Paper towels
  • A tool to mix your paint and fabric medium if not using premade fabric paint
  • A test scrap of fabric to practice stamping

Getting Started

  1. Prewash, dry, and iron your tote to remove oils.
  2. Wash and dry your seashells (especially if you gathered them from the beach)
  3. If not using fabric paint, prepare your paint according to the recipe above or the instructions on your fabric medium.
  4. Add a piece of cardboard between the layers of your tote bag to prevent paint transfer between the front and back of the bag.
  5. Optional: prepare a scrap piece of fabric to practice your stamping.
  6. Dab your shell with paint making sure to cover the ribs. Dabbing the shell will apply the paint better than brushing. Do not apply too much that the paint is sliding off.
  7. Make contact with the fabric and slowly tilt your shell side to side, top to bottom, to fully form your shape. If you can use two fingers, I found it helpful to use two to keep the shell in the correct position, but they definitely shifted some as I rolled/tilted them.
  8. Repeat until your bag has as many shell stamps as you’d like!
  9. Let the paint dry for 24 hours, and you can repeat with the other side if you’d like.


I love the asymmetrical shell design I created, but I'm considering adding additional details. Maybe I'll add embroidery elements for additional texture

If you made a seashell stamped tote bag, I would love to see it! Tag or message me on Instagram at made.for.crafts or email hello@madeforcrafts.com.

Thanks for reading!

- Destinee

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