DIY Painted Pineapple Tote Bag

I'm not done with pineapples yet.  I loved them last Summer, I still love them this Summer and I hope they stick around for next year.

I've taken my simple DIY Painted Pineapple Print and turned it into a little tote bag.  My Cricut Explore Air™ machine made it super easy to cut a freezer paper stencil of a pineapple out.

I participating in the Cricut Design Space Star challenge. This month's them is Fashion and Gear. So, if for some super lucky chance I make it to the top 10, you guys gotta help me out by voting for my bag.

So, here's how I did it.  First I logged into my Cricut Design Space account and started a new project with a simple 12x12 mat.  I inserted my favorite pineapple image, it's from the cartridge called Serenade.  The great thing about Design Space is that you don't have to buy the whole cartridge anymore, you can just buy one image.  Ok, so once I have the image big enough on the mat I simply hit cut.  You will be see a preview of the cutting mat and the pineapple will be in the top left hand corner of the mat.  Click and drag the image over to the center of the mat.

Place a 12x12" piece of freezer paper on the cutting mat, shiny side down.  Load the mat, turn the dial to custom and then on the custom pull down menu select vellum (that's the closest material to freezer paper and it works perfectly).  And then hit GO!  In a matter of seconds, you'll have a beautifully cut stencil.

With your iron set to no steam, iron on the stencil, shiny side down in the center of your bag.  I bought this simple canvas bag at Hobby Lobby for just $2.99.  

Now the fun begins, select a few bright colored craft paints, I used for for my bag.  I use Martha Stewarts paints, if they are heat set with an iron, you can wash them.  

Applying one color at a time, make small brush strokes in one direction over the entire pineapple shape.

Try to evenly space each color, overlapping them some.

Allow the paint to dry completely and then gently remove the stencil.

So great, right?  A nice clean line.  The freezer paper really makes a great seal for your stencil.  Put a small sheet of parchment paper over the painted pineapple shape and iron to set the color (about 1 min.)  Now your bag is ready to head to the beach or pool and if it gets dirty, no worries, just throw it in the wash!

I am a member of the Cricut Blogger Network. I may receive prizes in exchange for my winning projects. Even though I am not being directly compensated for these posts, I am under consideration for a prize with Cricut Design Space Star. All opinions are 100% my own.