DIY Dora Backpack and Diego Rescue Pack Goody Bags

So yesterday, we held an early celebration of our daughter's 4 year old birthday since we knew that Zander will be here any moment now. I can't believe by next Thur-Friday we will be having another addition to our family! With all the excitement of the new baby and Christmas around the corner, we wanted to make sure that we got to take time to focus on Maddie for her birthday so she didn't feel left out. I had ordered her a cute Dora dress about a month ago with a matching necklace, of course for her favorite cartoon in the world. While the other girls are off dreaming of being Princess Sophia, Madeline still just wishes she had a pet monkey and baby jaguar.

So to make things a little easier, we hosted ours at the Burger King across the street while the play area is still somewhat sanitary and not a breeding ground for all kinds of diseases. I had been cruising Pinterest for some time about what to do for goody bags and decided to make handmade Dora and Diego backpacks for boys and girls.  All the DIY's I saw involved sewing, and to be honest, I haven't quite reached the level of even entry level sewing and did not feel like sewing 15+ bags for just a party. I did run across a youtube video that suggested hot gluing felt pieces together, so I planned to buy some felt and experiment. Instead what happened when I went in search for some felt was like every other adventure I set out on, I  didn't quite find the color I was looking for- it seems even the dollar store during Christmas season is picked through.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I did, however; find some awesome little tote bags in purple and orange that were two for a $1.  I added a process of what I did to create the goody packs, just don't pay mind to the color change  of the bags in the photos- I was working under some weird light being that it turns dark by 6 here.

I had it in my mind that with the felt I did find I could do the faces of the backpacks and just do totes.  But as I was toying with that idea, I realized i could just use the tote handle to create the backpack straps for the back and still use hot glue.

First, all you do is snip down the middle of both of the tote handles.

Next, snip off the bottom of the handle that is connected to the top of the tote. (Only one side)

So, you will still have one handle set attached to one side, but you take the pieces you fully cut off and place at the bottom of the tote to begin on the backpack straps.

Hot glue the bottom of the straps first

Then, pull down the top piece and glue over the bottom strap to make one whole strap

Here, you have the back portion once glued to look like backpack straps

Note: These are too small for the kids to actually wear, but are cute for decor purposes.

If you want them to actually be able to wear them, I would just cut off all the tote handle and 

find a coordinating color of ribbon or felt and hot glue longer straps.

Now, for the front portion, I just cut out eyes, pupils, red mouth and eye brows and hot glued onto the front. Watch out for how you glue the pupils- you don't want cross-eyed backpacks!

I filled up the orange backpacks with goodies for boys such as avenger and ninja turtle crayons, mini notebooks, some candy, bouncy balls, play dough,  and glow sticks. I filled the same for the girls but with princess crayons. 

I also made a map that would direct the children where to find their thank you cards at the local daycare and for the others would receive in their mailbox. 

It was so much fun! And very cheap! I think I might have spent $30 altogether for 16 bags and the goodies that went in with it.

Maybe some other poor soul might be able to think of a better process, but if not, feel free to enjoy the tutorial if you have a little explorer's b-day coming up!