The Promised Back Pack Tutorial

I finally got all the pictures and instructions together for this promised tutorial for these fun little back packs.

Several people have posted instructions for these on Split Coast and on blogs - I found it on this blog inkingidaho but added more measurements and a more detailed description of putting it together. Be sure and check out her blog - she has a lot of fun tutorials listed!

The size of this backpack is 3 ½” x 3” x 1 ¾”

Supplies:

1 – 8 ½” x 11” piece of card stock for bag (see under Instructions below for how to cut this up)
2 ¾” x 1 7/8” designer paper for large flap (if using 2 different dp’s on your back pack this is #1 color)

1 7/8" x 7/8" designer paper for small pocket flap (#1 color)

2 ¾” x 3 ¼” designer paper for front panel (#2 color)

1 7/8” x 1 3/8” designer paper for small pocket panel (#2 color)

Double sided super tacky tape

Regular double sided adhesive

Two 6” pieces of 1/2” wide twill to coordinate with card stock for shoulder straps

One 4 ½” piece of 1/4” grosgrain ribbon to coordinate with card stock for top loop

1/8” hole punch

¼” hole punch

Small piece of Velcro

Glue Dots

Scor Pal

Scissors

Buttons or stamps to decorate as desired.

White Gel Pen

Snow flake stamp

Ink to match CS


Instructions:

Cut card stock to 10 ¼” x 5 ¼” (keep the cut off piece for the pockets as per below)

With 5 ¼” side along top of score pal - score at 3 ½”

Turn cardstock and with 10 ¼” side along top - score at 3”, 4 ¾”, 7 ¾” and 9 ½”
(since most of these measurements aren’t marked on scorepal – I marked them with a pencil first then lined the dots up to a score line.)

Cut on the shorter score lines up to the 3 ½” crosswise score – cut off the ¾”x 3 ½” piece on the end.

Fold on all score lines.

You can see the scores and cuts on this picture - I made short pen marks on the ends of the score lines just to show you where they are- these are not cuts - the only cuts are along the bottom edge.

Cut and score the following from the left over piece of cardstock for the flaps and pockets

Backpack Flap - 2 15/16” x 2 ½ (the first measurement is just shy of 3” it has to fit inside the backpack) score at ½” on one long side only

Pocket – 3” x 2” score at ¼” and ½” on three sides. Leave one long side unscored. Cut off corners. Fold on score lines.

Pocket Flap - 1 ½” x 2” score at ¼” and ½” on one long side only.
The top piece is the little pocket - the bottom left piece is the little pocket flap and the bottom right piece is the back pack flap (I marked the ends of the score lines with a pen so you could see them better - they are not cuts.

Trace rounded edges on the backpack flap and the pocket flap by placing the round tape roll over the piece and drawing the curve. Cut the curves. You could also use a Coluzzle or anything round.
Place the appropriate piece of designer paper over both flaps and trace the curves. Trim to make these slightly smaller than the flaps and attach to flaps.

* If you are stamping the little pocket flap instead of using DP - stamp it now.

Attaching the straps:

On the end of the back pack piece without the narrow end flap – on the bottom - make two dots with a pencil - ½” up from bottom and 3/4” in from each side – punch two holes with ¼” punch over your dots.

On the top – mark 2 dots with a pencil ¾” down from top and 1 ¼” in from each side.

Put the two ribbons through the holes (one on each side) and attach to the inside of the back pack using tacky tape. Make sure the outside loops are even and not twisted.

Attach the large flap to the top inside of the back pack above the shoulder straps

You can see the placement of the tacky tape on this picture - the middle large panel is the front of the backpack and that bottom piece should be the last piece folded up and attached so you see the fold from the front of the pack. You can just slightly see the piece of tape on the small panel on the right - it's on the front as it will fold in and attach to the piece with the ribbons on it. You can also see the velcro piece at the top of the large flap. I put both sides of the velcro piece here( the fuzz and the loops) - then removed the backing and closed the backpack - that way the pieces will be lined up perfectly.

Attaching the top loop

Measure 1” in from each side right on the fold of the flap.
Using a 1/8” hole punch if you have it – or a ¼” hole punch, punch the two holes.
Put the ¼” ribbon through the holes and attach the ends to the inside using super tacky tape.

Attach the large piece of designer paper to the front panel of the back pack. (the dotted paper shown here)

Taping up the back pack.

Put super tacky tape along the outside of the narrow end tab on the inside edge, and on the bottom panels. The flap under the front of the back pack will be the last flap you fold up as you want the fold showing from the front - not an open edge. Line up your edges nice and even as you attach them.

Attaching the little front pocket

Fold the scored edges of the little pocket. Attach strips of tacky tape to the three sides. If you have 1/8" tacky tape that is a better fit on this small pocket. If not - 1/4" will work. Pull off the paper of the tacky tape on the pocket and attach the flap to the open edge of the pocket. Put tacky tape on the back edge of the pocket flap. Pull off the paper and attach the pocket with the flap to the front bottom of the back pack - even with the bottom edge.

Squeeze the sides of the backpack together (front to back) while pushing in on the sides near the top to bring it in at the top.

Attach small pieces of Velcro under both flaps.

Add a button to center of top flap if desired. Or you could add a flower or something stamped and cut out.

The flaps can also be stamped instead of using DP.

So there you go - I hope I didn't leave anything out - it's a long tutorial as there are a lot of steps - hope I didn't totally confuse you!

I'd love to see the back packs that you create! I'm sure you will all think of many different fun ways to decorate these for different events. Please link them back here so I can check them out!!

Remember to check out my blog candy post here - you have until Friday 10/17 to enter!