Do you have an old backpack that is still perfectly usable but could use a little makeover? Instead of replacing it, you can give it a completely new look!
For this project, I transformed an older pink backpack using my own cute bat designs and Printable POLI-FLEX. I sublimated the designs onto the POLI-FLEX, cut them with my cutting machine using Print Then Cut, and applied everything with a mini heat press.
It’s a fun way to combine sublimation, Print Then Cut and upcycling in one project.
My cute bat designs shown in this tutorial are created by me and is available in my shop. 🦇💕
What Is Printable POLI-FLEX?
For this project, I used POLI-FLEX® Printable 4675 by POLI-TAPE.
This is a white polyester sublimation material that allows you to use sublimation designs on materials such as cotton and dark-colored fabrics, where normal sublimation would usually not work.
Because the POLI-FLEX gives you a white polyester surface, your sublimated colors stay bright and vibrant.
If POLI-FLEX Printable 4675 isn’t available in your country, you can search for terms such as:
- White sublimation HTV for cotton
- Sublimation HTV for dark fabrics
- White polyester sublimation HTV
- Sublimation heat transfer material for cotton
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific material you are using, as pressing temperatures and times can vary between brands.
Materials I Used
For this backpack makeover, I used:
- An old backpack
- POLI-FLEX Printable 4675
- My cute bat designs
- Sublimation printer and ink
- Sublimation paper
- Cutting machine
- Cutting mat
- Mini heat press
- Protective paper (Butcher paper)
- A towel
- Basic Print Then Cut supplies
Step 1: Preparing the Bat Designs
I started by preparing my cute bat designs in my cutting software.
Before printing, I resized the designs to fit the front pocket of the backpack.
I used several coordinating elements, including a larger bat character, a crescent moon, a smaller bat and little decorative details. Using several matching elements makes it possible to create a complete little scene instead of adding just one image.
Once I was happy with the sizes and placement, I prepared everything for Print Then Cut.
Step 2: Sublimating the Printable POLI-FLEX
Next, it was time to transfer the designs onto the POLI-FLEX.
After sublimating them, the colors became beautifully bright and vibrant against the white polyester surface.
This is one of the reasons I like using this type of material. Sublimation normally works best directly on white or light polyester, but the white POLI-FLEX creates the polyester surface for you.
Once the sublimation was complete, I let the material cool before moving on to cutting.
Step 3: Cutting the Sublimated POLI-FLEX
Now that the designs were sublimated, I placed the POLI-FLEX onto my cutting mat.
I loaded the mat into my cutting machine and used Print Then Cut to cut around each individual design.
After cutting, I removed the excess material so that I was left with the individual bat designs ready to place on my backpack.
Step 4: Planning the Placement
Before pressing anything, I arranged all of the designs on the backpack.
I definitely recommend doing this before you start pressing.
Move the pieces around until you are completely happy with the layout. Once the POLI-FLEX has been heat applied, you won’t be able to simply move the design somewhere else.
For my backpack, I placed the larger bat as the main design and arranged the moon, smaller bat and decorative elements around it.
Step 5: Fill the Backpack with a Towel
A backpack isn’t naturally flat, which can make heat pressing a little tricky.
To solve this, I filled the backpack with a towel.
The towel helps push the fabric outward and gives me a firmer, flatter surface to work against. This makes applying pressure with a mini heat press much easier.
It also helps when working close to seams and zippers.
Step 6: Repairing the Frayed Zipper Area
While working on the backpack, I noticed that the fabric near the end of the zipper had started to fray.
Rather than leaving it like that, I decided to use a small piece of POLI-FLEX over the damaged area.
This covered the frayed section and helped give the zipper area a much cleaner finish.
I love when a makeover can also fix a small problem at the same time!
Step 7: Applying the Designs with a Mini Heat Press
Now for the fun part!
Because a backpack has seams, pockets, curves and zippers, using a large flat heat press isn’t always practical.
For this project, I used a mini hand heat press.
The smaller size allowed me to work carefully around each section of the backpack and apply the designs one at a time.
I made sure that each part of the design received enough heat and pressure, paying extra attention to the edges.
Always follow the recommended temperature, pressing time and peeling instructions provided by the manufacturer of your POLI-FLEX or sublimation HTV.
The Finished Backpack 🦇💕
And that’s the finished makeover!
The old backpack now has a completely different look with its cute little bat theme.
What I especially like about projects like this is that you don’t always need to buy something new. If an item is still usable, customizing it can give it an entirely new personality and extend its life.
It’s also a great way to use your own artwork and turn an everyday item into something completely unique.
Cute Bat Designs Coming Soon
All of the bat artwork used for this project was designed by me.
The designs will be available in my shop soon, so you can use them for your own spooky-cute craft projects. 🦇✨
They can be used to create matching projects such as bags, shirts, pencil cases, pouches and other accessories.
Watch the Full Tutorial
You can watch the full video tutorial to see the entire process, including:
- Sublimating the POLI-FLEX
- How the colors look after sublimation
- Using Print Then Cut
- Cutting the individual designs
- Preparing the backpack for pressing
- Using a towel to create a better pressing surface
- Repairing the frayed zipper area
- Applying the designs with a mini heat press
- The final backpack reveal
If you enjoyed this project, be sure to check out my other DIY, sublimation and Print Then Cut tutorials.
Happy crafting! 🦇💗