Bag the Books!

Bag the Books! craft

Carry your books in style in your very own bookbag. Jazz it up with bright colors and cool designs!

  • 1.

    Choose a bookbag made with poly/cotton, cotton, or denim. If necessary, pre-wash to remove sizing. Think of a theme for your bookbag. Sketch shapes and words with Crayola® Colored Pencils on paper. Choose your favorites.

  • 2.

    Cover a table with recycled newspaper. You may use Crayola Fabric Crayons and Crayola Fabric Markers (in that order). Crayola® Fabric Markers stain clothing and surfaces, CLOSE ADULT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED.

  • 3.

    Use fabric crayons to color in big areas on your bookbag. You can draw freehand or use stencils. Brush away crayon specks.

  • 4.

    To heat set the crayon, make an ironing pad. Place white paper or recycled newspaper over an iron-safe surface. Place bookbag on ironing pad. Place white paper inside bookbag to prevent transfer to the other side.

  • 5.

    Place white paper on top of your design. Set the iron on "synthetic." Press the design with slow steady pressure for 1 to 2 minutes. Lift iron to move it. Hold papers in place to prevent blurring. When finished setting the crayon, remove paper carefully. Cool.

  • 6.

    With Crayola Fabric Markers, fill in empty areas. Make even more interesting effects. Recap fabric markers as soon as possible and store in a horizontal position.

  • 7.

    Ask an adult to heat set the color. Set the iron on cotton. Cover ironing area with paper. Iron on the reverse side, using a back and forth motion, for 4 minutes. Another way to heat set the color is to place your bookbag in the dryer on the hottest setti

  • 8.

    To prevent bleeding of fabric marker colors, wash your backpack separately, in cold water, for the first three times. When needed after that, wash your backpack inside out in warm or cold water. Dry on low heat.