Materials:
- Worbla's Meshed Art
- Worbla's Black Art (optional)
- Foam or Silk Clay (https://amzn.to/3sAjfnk)
- (EVA) foam plate (HD Cosplay Foam EVA High Density | myCostumes.de, €8.00)
- Hot glue (https://amzn.to/3sqFADK) or Pattex
- Acrylics
- Hand grinder
- Leather or fabric
- D-rings
- water bowl (optional)
- magnets (optional)
- (Self-adhesive) felt (optional)
Make a sketch of your bag so you know the size and what kind of pattern you need to draw.
Then cut out the paper bag template. You can now continue working with it.
You need 2 pieces for the back of the bag - I cut out 1 piece of Worbla's Meshed Art (for the outside) and 1 piece of Worbla's Black Art (for the inside). You also need 2 pieces for the "front flap", which can be closed and opened (same scheme as for the back) and the same for the front, where the "front flap" then lies mainly. Since my self-adhesive felt is black for this bag, I chose Worbla's Black Art for the interior. But of course you can also choose any other plate material. Meshed Art is very stable thanks to the integrated net. All my parts are the same size!
Now I connect my two Worbla layers to the leather (or fabric) by heating both sides and then pressing them together - tying in a good inch of the fabric/leather. My Meshed Art shows the net outwards, because then the clay adheres well and possibly gets a little more grip than on the smooth surface. The black then shows inwards later. Cut off the leather that might overlap.
Inside and outside
Now I connect my two Worbla layers to the leather (or fabric) by heating both sides and then pressing them together - tying in a good inch of the fabric/leather. My Meshed Art shows the net outwards, because then the clay adheres well and possibly gets a little more grip than on the smooth surface. The black then shows inwards later.
Do the same for the front, only this time you don't have to glue anything in between.
Now you cut a piece of foam (EVA/Plastazote etc.), preferably with a certain density - it should be hard rather than soft and 0.5 cm thick - to the depth you want. It should go from edge to edge of the front.
Now glue the piece with hot glue or Pattex in your front and let it dry properly. You can also fix it with painter's tape if necessary.
Cut and glued
Now you can glue a piece of (self-adhesive) felt into your floor. Be sure to leave the ends slightly above the foam. You will always see this edge when you open the bag! If material protrudes indoors, carefully cut into it and fold it over. The longer ends are also turned over and fixed.
It is now the turn of the back of the bag. Glue this to the piece of foam in exactly the same way as the front. I also fix everything again with fabric tape. But that is a matter of taste. ;)
If you have done everything correctly, you can close the bag.
Since I definitely like it, I attach a magnet to the front and to the inside of the flap. But there are many options. Also a ribbon or clip can be attached as you like.
Cut and glued
Here, too, I now attach (self-adhesive) felt elements to the inside. It's just more comfortable and looks nicer in my opinion. Simply cut out and glue in place.
In order for nicer transitions to appear, my pieces are always a bit larger so that I can fold the material. I'm also now attaching two D-rings so that I can later put a strap/handle around the bag.
Now I start to apply the Silk/Foam Clay in fine "sausages". Press it down properly, preferably work with a little water to shape it (like with clay) and use modeling tools if you like to give it some structure. Take either the front flap and the back (as in the picture) or the sides and the front. I would work in two or three phases unless you have somewhere to hang your bag on one of the D-rings. Let the clay dry properly! That means 12-24 hours of patience. Only then do you apply the rest.
Back and inner
Inner and front
When the entire bag is covered in Silk/Foam Clay, you've created a nice texture AND the clay is really, really dry, proceed. Now you can take the hand grinder and mill out the grooves with a cylindrical head and make them more angular. So it looks even more "treey".
When that's done, you can start "painting". I prime in depth with black acrylic paint. But you can also start with dark brown or dark green, just as you want your bark bag.
Then the first layer of brown comes on top. I still pretty much fill in the gaps and cracks with it, but not as precisely. Since the depth is dark, it doesn't matter to paint a little "sloppy". ;)
Now I just brush on the next layers of lighter brown. I always wait for the layer to dry before proceeding otherwise the colors will blend. In this way you get a nice natural coloring. Dry brushing is the motto.
I also brush over the inner felt so that the green turns into a gentle brown. But that is a matter of taste. And the bark bag is ready! Add a handle and you can carry it as a handbag.
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