Last week I shared a tutorial on a DIY Youth and Toddler size screen printing pallet that I made for my screen printing press.  This same pallet works great for tote bags too!  Today I'm making a personalized trick-or-treat bag for my daughter who is going to be Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon” for Halloween. Yep, no girly-girl costumes for us.  It seems like just yesterday that I made DIY tutus for Halloween and now I'm making dragon wings!

For a fun effect on Halloween night, I used Speedball Night Glo ink in white.  This ink isn't very thick so I knew that covering a black bag would be difficult with just one coat of ink.  You've seen me use the ink – dry – ink – dry method in tutorials to get a vibrant color on dark fabrics. I'm using that same process here to get a great coverage on this blank tote bag.

Supplies Used in this Tutorial

• Screen Printing Press
• Speedball Night Glo ink in white
• Blank Tote Bag
• Oracal 651 Vinyl – any color
• Speedball Screen Printing Frame 10×14
• Squeegee
• Painter’s Tape
• Transfer Tape
• Cricut Maker
• Heat Press, Easy Press 2 or household iron (Learn how to heat set your finished tote)

Process Video

Not shown in the video > Heat setting the tote after the ink dries.  This step is important because it makes your ink permanent on the fabric.  Here is a tutorial with 6 ways you can heat set screen printing ink.

Want to learn how to screen print with craft vinyl?  Start here!