Do you remember Ella’s 6th birthday Shellabration last year? One of the things we did to get ready for it was collect seashells during our annual North Carolina beach trip. It was a fun activity for us and I expect we’ll be collecting shells again this year. So I decided to gift Ella a little canvas tote for her treasures and of course, I had to dress it up a little!

This is a very straightforward DIY and completely customizable- my favorite! I cut different fabrics and arranged them to look like the scales on a mermaid tail. Cute, right?! Here’s what you need to make your own:

One of the most useful tools I used for this project were these finger protectors. I was able to add the small embellishments and press down the fabric without burning my fingers. Hallelujah! I love how it all turned out.

Are you planning any trips this summer? What could you put in a DIY tote? Let me know in the comments or come say hi on Instagram or Facebook!