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DIY Camera Bag Insert Dividers for Purse! {So EASY}

January 9, 2012 By Heidi 8 Comments

I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

Who needs a ho-hum DSLR carrier when you know how to make a camera bag? Create your own fashion DIY Camera Bag Insert Dividers & Purse with these easy step-by-step instructions! Carrying your camera never looked so good!

DIY Camera Bag Insert

Following is a fun Photography Tip and guest
post by frugal friend Carly ~ enjoy!

DIY Camera Bag Insert Dividers

Related:

  • More Popular Photography Tips and Tricks!

Skip the not-so-cute camera bag when you make this fun DIY Camera Bag Purse instead!

This year, I was determined to get to work on a homemade-yet-extremely-useful gift for my mother. We both shoot with a Nikon DSLR and had been working with fairly standard Nikon camera bags.

At the end of the day, however, those bags pose two problems:

First, they’re not particularly glamorous. It felt like lugging around a huge, unattractive… diaper bag?  Shouldn’t it feel professional to be shooting in downtown Chicago?  Not when you’re carrying around a diaper bag (and if you’ve already got ONE diaper bag for its real purpose, hauling around a second one is definitely not exciting)!

Second, the bags were total theft magnets. I can’t even keep track of how many people I know whose cameras have been stolen. Why does that surprise me when we carry around bags with NIKON or CANON written across the top?

From now on, I will carry a camera bag that screams neither “Steal me, I have $1,000 of equipment inside!” nor “Look, a diaper bag!”  No, sir. I pledge (ha!) to carry a bag that is attractive. Chic. Fabulous.

Unfortunately, most chic and fashionable camera bags will run you upwards of $200… until now.  Do it yourself with this tutorial. I spent $35 on a purse from TJ Maxx and about $10 at Joann’s Fabrics buying foam and fabric.

DIY Camera Bag Purse Insert – Supplies Needed:

  • Purse
  • Regular Density Foam {I used a 1″ x 15″ x 17″ piece}
  • Velcro
  • Fabric
  • Sewing Machine {or needle and thread to hand sew}

How to Make a Camera Bag Insert:

DIY Camera Bag Supplies

Step 1: Measure & Cut…

  • To line the Bottom: From the inside of the bag, measure the inside bottom {length and width} and cut foam to fit.  {Demo = 13.5 x 5.5 inches}
  • To Line the Longer Sides: Measure the length of the bag {should be the same as prior piece} and desired height of the side padding.  Cut foam to fit.  {Demo = 13.5 x 5.5 inches}
  • To Line the Shorter Sides: With the prior pieces sitting in the bag, measure the width of space between the side pads {aka what would fill the gap}.  Cut foam to that width and the same height as longer side padding.  {Demo = 2 x 5.5 inches}
  • To Create Separators: With the prior pieces sitting in the bag, measure the width of space between the longer side pads at the point(s) where intend to add separators.  Then cut foam to that width and either the same height as the side lining or an inch or two shorter {if you would like to store your camera lens facing down}. {Demo = 4.5 x 4 inches}

DIY Camera Bag Insert Dividers

Step 2: Cover with Fabric…

  • Cut fabric to wrap around each piece.
  • Wrap the fabric, inside-out, around the foam.
  • Pin fabric so that all edges, except for one, are closed.
  • Remove foam and sew the pinned edges.
  • Flip right-side-out and insert the foam and sew shut.

How to Make a Camera Bag from Scratch

Step 3: Add Velcro…

  • Add ‘Rough’ Velcro Strips on the outside 2 pieces {foam lining the short sides of the bag} and the inside separators pieces.
  • Place the ‘Soft’ Velcro on the longer pieces of foam that line the sides of the bag, so that if you ever want to remove one of the separators, you’ll have soft velcro left that won’t scratch your camera.

DIY Camera Bag Ideas

Camera Bag Hacks

Wasn’t that easy?!?  Now you’ve got your very own DIY Camera Pouch!

DIY Camera Bag Insert

You can even use the purse pockets for to store your lens cover, spare battery, and extra memory cards!

How to Make a Camera Bag Insert

DIY Camera Pouch

Sewing Pattern for Camera Bag Insert

Carly is a young blogger living in Chicago who loves mason jars, healthy cupcakes, oxymorons, and workout music! Check her out on Facebook and Pinterest!

Now that you know how to create a super-cute Camera Bag, be sure to also check out these fun Photography Tips and totally Frugal Gift Ideas below…

How to Take Better Pictures! {Learning All About Aperture}

Want to know How to Take Better Pictures? Aperture is going to be your new best friend!

How to Take Better Pictures

How to Capture the Glow of Christmas Lights

If you love Christmas lights, but have trouble capturing what you love to see with your camera, then you love these tips for!

28 Kid Photo Taking Tips for Taking Cute Kid Photos

These tried and true tips from professional photographers and photo-crazed moms will have you snapping the CUTEST photos in no time!

How to Shoot and Create 3-D Photo Cards

Do you want your cards to really stand out?  Take a minute to go check out this crazy-cool photography trick for making 3-D Photo Cards!

Valentines Day-Cards-3d-196x300

DIY Photo Tile Collage

This photo tile collage is stunning… and would make a great, thrifty gift!

Photo Coaster-Collage

How to Make Photo Coasters

These easy DIY Photo Coasters start with a simple tile, and transform into sweet keepsakes that make great thrifty gifts!

How to Make Photo Coasters (1)

DIY Photo Cube

This is such an easy way to make a personalized homemade gift for someone you love!

DIY Photo Cube Tutorial

Fun Crafts To Do at Home + Easy DIY Projects! {HUGE List}

Feeling Crafty?  Get inspired with this HUGE collection of Fun Crafts To Do that Anyone Can Enjoy!

Fun Crafts to Do at Home for Kids and Adults

Photography Tips and Tricks + Fun Photo Gift Ideas

Becoming an AMAZING photographer is easier than you think, thanks to these little-known Photography Tips and Tricks for your phone and DSLR!

Hot Photo Deals Photography Tips and Tricks

So have you tried making one of these adorable DIY Camera Bag Insert Dividers for your purse yet?

Leave a comment and share… 

DIY Camera Bag Purse at TheFrugalGirls.com

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Guest Posts, Most Popular 2, Photo, Photography Tips, Thrifty Gifts Tagged With: Sewing

Comments

  1. Christie says

    July 26, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    Whoa that is soooo cool! I love this idea! It’s a great way to keep budget friendly too since buying a camera can be so expensive as it is!

    Reply
    • Heidi says

      July 26, 2021 at 4:00 pm

      I completely agree… I just love my purse camera bag!!!

      Reply
  2. Suzi says

    January 11, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Just what I was looking for! A jump off point for a DIY camera bag. Love Love Love your idea!! I got a Canon Rebel T3i for Xmas..needed something besides the ol’ standard boring camera bag. Thank yo so much for sharing your idea. Now..let me go do a “search and destroy” in my closet for a bag that will fill the bill!!

    Reply
  3. Glenda Eddins says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Loved your camera “purse.” Since the day I bought it, my compact Nikon S-10 has been residing in an old contact lens solution starter kit made of a padded silvery shiny polyester fabric. The camera, instruction manual, and a micro tripod all snuggle inside the zippered bag, while the outer zippered pocket holds a lens cleaner kit. I occasionally throw the bag (sans camera) in the washer/dryer. I save all kinds of zippered bags like those cute make-up bags that come as free gift with purchase at the make-up counters. Some of those are large enough and even padded and would be a good start for putting together a personalized camera bag. My camera bag fits inside some of my purses, or I connect its handle to my purse strap ring using a carabiner clip. I just love to find alternate uses for things I already have on hand or that I can buy on the cheap. My fav coupon carrier began as a $3.00 “art supply” case from Dollar General which came with a tiny box each of crayons and markers. It zips on 3 sides and has a carry handle on the spine. Coupons are slipped between the pages of a small photo album insert, which I picked up at Dollar Tree.

    Reply
  4. Sarah says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Oh I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE!! I hate hugging around our giant camera backpack (in addition to my real purse and/or actual diaper bag). I just got a sewing machine for Christmas and me thinks this will be a project in the near future ;o)

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  5. melissa says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:20 am

    How do I forward these instructions to a friends email?

    Reply
    • Rhonda says

      January 9, 2012 at 9:25 am

      @Melissa—Open an email and copy the URL at the top of the page and paste into the email body. She will then be able to open the website to this page.

      Reply
      • Nadya says

        November 16, 2012 at 11:40 am

        I had the Canon Powershot A300 that I got a few yrs ago until my son broke it. Plus although it took wodnreful pictures, it didn’t have enough zoom for me. It was only 5.1X. It was somewhat small for me atleast, I love larger cameras. Makes me feel like I’m a photographer of some sort :-)So the one that you took that award winning photo with is a Kodak P850. It has a 12X zoom and I think I may buy some toys for it. I’m already eyeing a wide angle lens and Zoom flash. Oh the joys! Hey girls can have toys too!Good Luck. camera buying is serious business

        Reply

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Hey there... it's so nice to meet you! I'm Heidi: a Frugal Girl living in sunny Arizona! I love sharing Easy Recipes, DIY Decor, Style & Beauty Hacks, Gardening Tips, Travel Hacks, and Creative Ways to Live the Sweet Life on a Budget. I'm so glad you're here!
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