Guest Post: DIY Map Backpack

Hi there! I’m Lauren, a South African university student and crafter from over at LDP. I am currently studying English and Journalism, though I spend much of my spare time making just about anything and everything that takes my fancy. While Annika packs her things, I’ll be showing you how to DIY your own map backpack! I’m currently in my first year of university, and I’ve just started my second term for the year. I spent my first term lugging around my books in a shoulder bag that was uncomfortable and inappropriate for holding so many books – in fact, towards the end of the term, it was even beginning to break! Because of this, I was almost forced into buying a proper backpack in which to carry around my books. But rather than running the risk of having the same bag as someone else, or, on the other end of the spectrum, having a decidedly bland backpack for the rest of the year, I thought (as usual) – why not just DIY my own? I picked up a fairly plain beige backpack rather cheaply at a market, and decided that I’d convey my perpetual wanderlust by decorating it with an old-fashioned map! You will need: • A backpack • Leather or faux leather • Mod Podge • A printer and paper What to do: 1. Make sure that your bag has a flat area on which to place your map. I had to remove a bunch of plastic buckles and straps from mine to achieve this, so don’t let that put you off!   2. Cut out the size and shape of the area on which you want your map from the leather or faux leather (mine was in two sections, so I had two pieces of faux leather, which I painted with a base paint of acrylic paint first, though this isn’t completely necessary). 3. Print out your map image. (I just did this on normal printer paper at the print shop down the road!) 4. Mod-Podge your map onto the leather or faux leather, ensuring that it is completely stuck down and secured. 5. Cover the map in another layer of Mod-Podge and wait for it to dry completely. 6. Sew the leather or faux leather onto the backpack, covering the appropriate section. I hope you enjoyed this DIY, and I’d love to see photos of any attempts to make your own! Bloglovin' | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | Chictopia | Lookbook | Tumblr