If you've ever looked at utilitarian, functional backpacks and thought they'd be so much prettier if you made them, now's your chance. Mary Arima started a trend last year with her creative backpack boxes and today, she will share her instructions and patterns.

Cardstock

Paper Trimmer

Adhesive

Ribbon

Eyelets

Eyelet setter

Magnetic snaps

Stamps

Ink

Q: Marmar asked: "Can you tell me how to set chalk? I have used a stencil and chalked vines on paper. It looks good but it will come off if I touch it. I tried Krylon® spray but the image disappeared! Help please!"

A: I would suggest that before you put the chalk or pastels down, you create your design with VersaMark™. Then apply chalk. You will be able to seal your chalk with Krylon without all the chalk blowing away. Check our Resources section for a tutorial on Poppin' Pastels.

Resources page

Submit your question to Beate

Melody has a suggestion for the Tile Coasters: "I made some of these with StazOn™, and colored a couple with craft [pigment] ink just to see how it worked. I baked them for 30 minutes. Have had no bleeding or fading of the images. I did these months ago and have been using them with no problem for hot or cold drinks. I would put them in the oven, then turn it on and bake for 30 minutes after it comes to temp. Then let them cool with the oven, or at least don't put them on anything cold or wet when removing from oven if still hot."

Tile Coaster Tutorial
Tile Coaster Gallery

No special supplies are needed.