When we think about Halloween, thoughts of ghouls and goblins, witches and warlords, and trick-or-treaters often come to mind. This is the one night in October where all the freaks come out to grab some candy, frighten old ladies, and put enough fear in the hearts of the young and old to last a lifetime. In preparation for the festivities of the night, many gather together in a frenzy of orange and black to bob for apples, feed their faces with every sweet treat under the sun, and parade around town in fashionable hand-made Dora and Spiderman outfits in hopes to win 1st place in the Kindergarten Costume contest. By sundown, these little kiddy boppers are wired up and ready to do some damage in their neighborhoods as they travel door to door in search of more goodies to fill their sugar craving vessels.
To help assist our little addicts with the packaging of all their treats, we put our creative minds together and came up with a simple craft project that is both festive and functional. It’s the Trick-or-Treater’s Halloween Tote Bag, and it is adorned with some of the best Halloween novelty fabric this side of the sun. Our cute little bag is a softer and more concealing one than the old school plastic hollow pumpkin containers used by those from my generation many moons ago. In fact, the Trick-or-Treater’s Halloween Tote Bag offers two sturdy straps (as opposed to the black plastic one from the day), a wide canvas pouch, and the freedom to customize its exterior to fit your child’s personal taste.
From haunted villages and flaming skulls, to funny monsters and creepy crawly’s, just the right print and design will give your child’s Trick-or Treat Halloween Tote bag a unique one-of-a-kind look that will surely stand out under the scary moon lit sky.
To start your Trick-or-Treater’s Halloween Tote Bag, the easiest way is to purchase a plain manila tote bag from your local craft store, dollar store, or online site. This first step is better suited for those who are either too busy to create a bag from scratch, don’t want to work that hard, or novices at the sewing game. Since we support the idea of the
least-amount-of-work-with-good-results-anyway idea, we encourage this method. The totes usually range in price from $1-$5 depending on the merchant. The size can range from small to large, so you might have to guestamate how generous your neighbors are with the treats to determine what size will be best for your little goblin or princess.
Next, select your special fright night fabric. Mix and match prints if you feel creative. The imagination is endless .A half a yard of 45” cotton fabric is all you should need to complete your project. If you want to be on the safe side to allow room for error, purchase a full yard. Whatever is left over, can surely be put to use in creative ways for the holiday festivities. Some of the best Halloween novelty prints can be found at J&O Fabric store. Pick from scary creatures to animated characters. They sky is the limit.
Pick up a bottle of Tacky Fabric Glue or a roll of Stitch Witchery. These notions will allow you to secure your fabric to the tote bag without having to do any major sewing. A few tack stitches here and there will secure your material as needed. Both no-sew items can also be found at your local craft store or online fabric site.
Cut two separate pieces of fabric to fit each side of the bag and glue or tape into place. Follow the directions on the labels for dry time and proper application. You can cover the whole side, cut out the images and glue them sporadically around, or just cut enough fabric to create a festive border on your tote. Use of a good pair of seamstress scissors or pinking sheers will allow for ease in cutting whichever design you decide on. Keep the handles bare or add ribbons and trim for thrills. If you want to get really creative, add gemstones or other Halloween notions where applicable to make your Trick-or-Treat Halloween bag truly
unique.
When you are finished, step back and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Your project is complete! Now dress that little child of yours up in their Halloween best and step out into the night. The haunted wonderland awaits.
Check out our scary selection of Halloween fabric here!
Check out our colorful selection of harvest fabric here!
Check out our vast selection of other holiday fabric here!
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