Shelfie Bookbag DIY

If the other week was about the Manga Selfie, this week is all about the “shelfie!” Recently, one of us saw a gorgeous book bag which featured a shelf full of beloved book spines on offer from a big-name publisher. It was beautiful, and we wanted it. But, then, we thought, why not make our own? So, without further ado, here’s the first side of Bea’s Shelfie Bookbag. [The flip-side, which, I hear, is coming soon, will feature Jane Austen and Tolstoy!]

And here’ s our Shelfie Bookbag DIY 

Materials
Books
Canvas tote
Pencil
Sharpie for Fabrics or other permanent laundry marker
Camera & Photo-printer [Optional]
Tracing Paper [Optional]
Pen [Optional]
Ruler [Optional]
Light Box [Optional]
Painter’s tape [Optional]
Eraser [Optional]

Method 1
Line up some books on a shelf for inspiration.
[Optional] With a pencil and a ruler, trace a square on the canvas tote that will denote the space in which you will draw your “shelfie.”
Draw the shelf of books or spines in pencil.
Go over the outlines of your sketch in black permanent fabric marker.
Heck, why not go double-sided and do a shelf on either side of the bag?

Method 2
Line up some books on a shelf for inspiration.
Photograph them and print the photo on a large sheet of paper.
With a ruler, draw a “grid” over the photograph in pencil.
With a pencil and a ruler, draw a grid on the canvas tote that will denote the space in which you will draw your “shelfie.”
Draw the shelf of books or spines in pencil, with the gridded photo as a guide.
Go over the outlines of your sketch in black permanent fabric marker.

Method 3
Line up some books on a shelf for inspiration.
Photograph them and print the photo on a large sheet of paper.
Place the photo on a light box [optional.]
Place tracing paper over top of the photo and trace in pencil or pen.
Rub the backside of the tracing paper with pencil all over.
Place the tracing paper, backside-down onto the canvas tote, tacking down with tape if desired.
Trace over the outlines of the books again in pen or ink so it transfers to the tote.
Go over the traced outlines of the book spines in black permanent fabric marker.
After ink has dried, use an eraser to remove the pencil rubbings.

Here’s how Bea made her Shelfie Bookbag using Method 3:

Isn’t it grand?
Don’t you want a shelfie bookbag of your own?