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

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 easy step-by-step instructions! Carrying your camera never looked so good!

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:

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}

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.

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.

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

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

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…

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

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