26 Ways to Decorate a Plain Tote Bag

Something about spring makes me want to decorate tote bags. Need a new bag for summer camp? A bag for a birthday party? A bag for the beach? You see where I'm going....

And sometimes you think, what else is there to do with a tote bag than pencil polka dots? Well, friends, here are 26 stylin' ideas to jazz up your $1.99 Hobby Lobby tote bag (seriously, their cheapest one is my favorite).

26 DIY Tote Bag Ideas

1. Farmer's Market Tote Bag from Hello Nest

You can tackle this super easy DIY painted farmer's market tote in no time! If drawing is not your forté , don’t fret; there’s a free downloadable template available, too.

2. Shibori Dyeing from Hello Nest

Just like you would on regular fabric, use the Japanese shibori technique to give new life to a tote bag - even if it's one that has a couple of stains on it.

3. DIY Moon Tote from Almost Makes Perfect

Use the pretty moon printable to print on a plain tote bag and voila! You've got yourself a celestial bag.

4. Lovely Indeed Tote Bag from Lovely Indeed

Painting the Lovely Indeed logo on a tote bag is not just for die hard fans of the blog, but also for anyone who likes to add a little sweetness to their everyday attire.

5. Farmer's Market Tote from The House That Lars Built

These pretty fruits are just what you need to make your next market haul more fun!

6. DIY Iron On Typographic Tote Bag from How About Orange

A positive message on a tote bag is always on point! This stylish typography looks beautiful in red and it can be downloaded and ironed on.

7. Dip Dyed Canvas Totes from Glamour & Grace

Dip dyeing never gets old! With some textile paint and a canvas tote, you can make all your pastel dreams come true.

8. Polka dot tote bag from Hello Nest

The bottom of this tote bag is painted red for a cool color block look, while the fun dots are added with the eraser of a pencil. So easy!

9. Succulent Painted Tote from Craftberry Bush

The best tote bag for plant ladies to bring home their newest buys! While the design uses a stencil, it's painted on top for a more natural effect.

10. Mother's Day Tote Bag from Alice & Lois

We love this iron-on design for Mother's Day and beyond! It's simple and sweet and all the mamas in your life will be happy to have one.

11. Embroidered Monogram Tote Bag DIY from Flax & Twine

Transform a humble cotton bag into your new favorite tote with a fresh and modern hand-stitched monogram!

12. Tote Bag with White Lace Applique from Dream Green DIY

This bag might look detailed and delicate, but when it comes right down to it, you can easily knock this craft out in an afternoon and start using the tote right away.

13. Vegetable Print Tote from Curbly

Print out these veggie stickers on iron on paper and use them on your market tote bag!

14. Embroidered Custom Photo Tote Bags from Sarah Hearts

Printing a photo on a tote bag will look even more personal if you had some hand embroidery!

15. Stamped Lemon Bag from Alice + Lois

You can carry all the lemons life gives you with this fun stamped bag! The stamp is made from foam sheet and you only need yellow paint to make... lemonade.

16. DIY Mineral Chart Tote Bag With Free Printables from DIY in PDX

If you're a crystal enthusiast like us, you'll love the look of this mineral chart tote bag! It comes with free printables and the design is then transferred with the aid of iron on paper.

17. Easy Yarn Tassel Tote Bag from Damask Love

Tassels make everything look cuter - plain tote bags included! Choose a colorful variation or a single color to best complement your taste.

18. Tic Tac Toe Tote Bag from Journey Into Creativity

Love tic tac toe? Who doesn't! This easy designed is cut out from felt and attached to the bag with studs, meaning you can totally use it as a game board, too!

19. Gold Dipped Tote Bag from Hello Wonderful

Tote bags look so much fancier when you add gold! This design is just what you need for a quick wardrobe update.

20. Tasty Tote from Lana Red Studio

This "tasty tote" is printed with delicious ice cream all over, and it's perfect for carrying all your summer essentials.

21. DIY Sequined Tote Bag from Persia Lou

Use sequins by the yard to spell out your name, a favorite slogan or whatever else you may fancy. It will totes look fancy!

22. Linoleum Block DIY Stamped Tote Bag from Paper & Stitch

Have fun making your own stamp and using it to create a fun pattern on a plain tote bag. So many possibilities!

23. DIY Leather Strap Canvas Tote from Damask Love

Most of these tutorials show how to update the canvas side of a tote bag, but what if you also updated the handles? Adding leather handles makes regular bags look so much fancier!

24. Easy Canvas Tote Upgrade from Francois et Moi

Gold paint and animal print are the stars of this upgraded tote bag. It's intended for the farmer's market but you'll probably want to carry it everywhere!