Cassie Bustamante

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Back to School Style Guide: DIY Painted Pencil Pouch with Tassels

August 11, 2015 by Cassie 16 Comments

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I am so excited today to be teaming up with a few of my favorite bloggers to bring you a Back to School Style Guide, with loads of DIY ideas for you to ease you and your kiddos back into school mode.  I’ll be sharing a painted pencil pouch with tassels, and you’ll want to visit my friends Amber, Summer, Beth & Alma to see their fab projects! (Links also listed at the bottom of this post.)

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When Amber approached me about being part of the Back to School Style Guide, I jumped at the chance because I knew it would get me moving on back to school prep.  I remember back to school time as a child and how excited I was to select a new backpack.  Well, I am that mean mom who tells my kids if it is still in good shape, there’s no need for a new backpack.  So my kiddos will be headed back to school with the same exact backpacks they used last year.  My low maintenance child (when it comes to fashion!) Sawyer thinks this is perfectly fine by him- he still loves his backpack.  However, Emmy, my little fashionista who tends to wear 3 or 4 outfits in just one day, thinks it’s pretty much a crisis.  To ease the pain, I decided to make her a fun and feminine DIY painted and tassel pencil pouch.

DIY Tassel & Painted Pencil PouchPinI started with simple canvas pencil pouches I found on etsy, gathered fabric paint, yarn in coordinating colors (the pink and mint were thrifted), a foam brush, and a piece of cardboard to fit into the pouches.  I had ordered two pouches thinking I would make one for Sawyer, but Emmy had a friend over when I was working on these, so I made them for both girls instead.

pouch suppliesPin

Before I painted and decorated, I asked the girls to come up with one word each that they wanted on their pouch.  I placed the cardboard inside the pouch to prevent paint seeping through to the other side.

pouch cardboard insertPinI was striving for fun and imperfect here, not perfection, so I just went for it and free handed these.  As you can see below my cardboard was big enough, that I was able to insert it into both pouches at the same time.

pouch1PinWhite the paint dried, I made my tassels.  Believe it or not I had never made a tassel before, but it was really easy.  I didn’t need a tutorial because it really is simple and just as you would expect, but just in case I will tell you how I made them.

I started be wrapping my fingers in yarn several times.  The more you wrap, the thicker your tassel will be.

wrapping tasselPin

Once you have your fingers wrapped to your liking, cut the yarn.  Cut another piece of yarn about 6″-12″ long.

pouch creating tasselPin

Insert the end of your short strand of yarn so it is under all of your wrapping on your hand.

pouch making tasselPinPull the two ends tight and tie them as tight as you can, binding your loop of wrapped yarn. Remove the yarn from your hand.

pouch making tasselPinCut your loop at the opposite “side.” (Yes, I know a circle doesn’t have sides, but you get it.  Opposite end of the circumference???)

Using the ends of the strand that tied the knot, tie your tassel directly onto your pouch.  I had planned to use the zipper, but the key loop seemed like a better option.

Once you tie the tassel on, use another strand of yarn and wrap it around about 1/2″ down from the top of the tassel a couple of times and tie it in a knot.  Below you can see the pink one had just been tied onto the ring, and the mint one had been wrapped already.  Trim any excess from your strands.

pouch8PinOnce they’ve all been tied on, you’re done!

tassels on pouchesPin

 

 

 

I love the words these sweet girls chose for their pouches.  They both chose words to inspire and encourage themselves.DIY painted and tassel adorned pencil pouchesPin

DIY tassel and painted pencil pouchesPin

I gave them to the girls with their chosen words of “Dream” and “Love” and asked them to model for me.  Of course, after that, I texted my friend (whose daughter was over) and sent her the images as well because I worried she would go home and tell her mom I asked her to model for me and took photos.

DIY painted and tassel adorned pencil pouches for back to school stylePin

DIY painted and tassel adorned pencil pouches for back to school stylePinNow pop over to see what clever ideas these ladies have for getting back to school in style!

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Simple Stylings

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We go back in less than two weeks and I can’t believe how quickly another summer has passed.  Someone please stop time.   Have your kids gone back already?

 

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Filed Under: Craft, Kids, misfits (other craftiness)

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Comments

  1. Corinna - A Designer At Home says

    August 11, 2015 at 6:52 am

    Your imperfect free handed letters are PERFECT. just saying. These are super adorable. Lovely colors you chose.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:18 pm

      oh thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    August 11, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Super cute! I’m a mean mom too. Izzy will be sporting the same backpack for a third year 😉

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:18 pm

      emmy only got a new one last year because she bought it with her own money. true story.

      Reply
  3. Amber says

    August 11, 2015 at 9:45 am

    Absolutely adorable! Those tassels just make it!! Thank you so much for joining in, Cassie!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:17 pm

      thank you for asking me!

      Reply
  4. Carrie says

    August 11, 2015 at 9:51 am

    This is so cute and fun! My daughter would love it!! I’m going to have to give it a try with her before school starts. 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:17 pm

      thank you so much, carrie! it was SUPER quick and easy!

      Reply
  5. Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says

    August 11, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Totally adorable. Man, I love a tassel!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      put a tassel on it. 🙂

      Reply
  6. alma says

    August 11, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Cassie, I love this and those tassels are the perfect addition to it! I really want to make one for my daughter now! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      thank you so much, alma!

      Reply
  7. Gretchen says

    August 12, 2015 at 7:51 am

    cute! I kind of have a thing for pencil cases. I think they’re BETTER than backpacks. Although not as good as Trapper Keepers. I used to have one with kittens on it…..

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:15 pm

      YES to the trapper keepers. of course. i wish they would make a comeback.

      Reply
  8. Sara @ Russet Street Reno says

    August 12, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    Oh, these are so darling! I love them. Something about back to school always seems exciting, even when I’m no longer in school and my son isn’t old enough to care about supplies and preparing. I still love to browse the ads and see what cute things are available to buy or make!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      August 14, 2015 at 6:15 pm

      thank you so much!there are so many cute options these days!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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