How To Clean Lands End Canvas Tote

How to Turn a Canvas Tote Into a Pretty Planter

Canvas totes are not only handy for weekend trips and shopping outings; when monogrammed, they also make sweet gifts and even a perfectly personalized planter for your front porch.

Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Waterproof Fabric

Thoroughly spray the tote's exterior with the fabric waterproofing spray (Image 1), then give the tote's interior a through coat of spray too (Image 2). Allow to dry, following manufacturer's recommended cure time.

Line Tote's Interior

First, add a circle of hot glue to the bottom of the tote (Image 1), then press the kitchen trash bag's bottom into the glue. Pull the remainder of the trash bag up and cut off most of the excess to make fitting it easier (Image 2). Add an inner ring of hot glue just a bit below the tote's top (Image 3), then push the bag into the glue and cut off the excess. Voila: a perfectly lined tote bag.

Add Initial

First, note the tote's center by adding a small strip of painter's tape above and below the area you plan to stencil (Image 1). Use a ruler and pencil to find and mark the vertical center on both pieces of tape (Image 2). Use the marked center lines as a guide to position the letter you plan to stencil (Image 3), then using a straight up and down motion with a stencil brush, fill in your chosen letter with craft paint (Image 4). Tip: If using a stencil with multiple letters close together, tape off any surrounding letters to prevent mistakes.

Add Plant

For a final layer of protection, drop a plastic plant tray into the tote's bottom, then add your potted plant. Note: Using the tote as a cachepot, or overpot, instead of planting directly into the tote itself will both further protect the fabric from standing water while making it easy to swap out plants at will.

Display or Gift

Filled with a cheery blooming plant (we used a Gerbera daisy), the monogrammed tote makes a sweet gift for any plant-loving pals or is a creative container for your front porch or any interior space. Tip: Because this tote doesn't allow proper drainage, it's best used on a covered outdoor space to prevent the tote from filling with rainwater which could cause plants to rot.

Or, Sub One for a Wreath

Alternately, you can follow the steps above to turn a long-handled tote into a fun substitute for a standard front door wreath (Image 1). To attach it to a nail, wreath hanger or the door itself, just loop patterned ribbon through the handles (Image 2) and fill with a thriller (we used dahlia) and a spiller (we used calibrachoa) in a complementary color palette (Image 3).