OH Guide: How to recycle plastic bags into cool crafts
Despite my best efforts to bring enough reusable canvas bags with me when I go grocery shopping I always end up with a plastic bag or two either because I neglected to catch the bagger in time to tell him I really don't need a whole bag for three bananas or I spy some deal I can't pass up...I mean, who really needs 10 cans Hunt's Pasta Sauce? Apparently I think I do. And if that's not the worst part, I forget to bring the plastic bags back to the store with me to deposit in their recycle bin because I'm too concerned with remembering my canvas ones. Thus, we're accumulating plastic bags at an alarming rate.
To celebrate Earth Day and because I really need to find some ways to put these babies to good use I give you an OH Guide to plastic bag craftiness:
Not just for holding things anymore, plastic bags can be ironed, fused and twisted together to make many wonderful items.
To make with the kids:
Remember when you were a kid and an empty Vicks Cough Drops tin would become a steel, bullet proof tent for your GI Joes just by turning it over? That's what this tutorial for making a toy parachute from a plastic grocery bag by Flip Flops and Apple Sauce reminds me of. What kid wouldn't love getting one of these babies caught in a tree?
"Texaco, Texaco, over the hills to Mexico"...Make a jump rope from plastic bags with this DIY from Instructable member The Tumbleweed Kid.
Breezy spring days are perfect for flying a kite. Here's a DIY for making a kite that really flies out of a plastic bag from Wikihow.
Make mom a bouquet of flowers for mother's day that shouts "We love you, we love the Earth and we want our love to last more that five days." Kaboose has an easy how-to for making plastic bag flowers perfect for younger kids to craft. While older kids will really appreciate the beauty and look of this more advanced plastic bag flower tutorial. Hang up a plastic bag flower garland to really set the mood for dear ol' mom.
These beads made from plastic bags by
The {New New} are similar in construction to newspaper beads except you get to iron out some plastic bags here..goody!
Your daughter is way environmentally friendly and isn't afraid to let people know. Help your little activist make a plastic bag hair rosette and let her wear her eco-consciousness for all the world to see.
Kids Craft Weekly shows us how to make a rabbit from a plastic bag for a hopping good time with your wee bunny.
Scholastic's tutorial for making a really cute plastic bag fish mobile with the kids would look magnificent swaying in the wind.
More advanced, teen crafts:
Did you know you can crochet with yarn? If you whip up rows like the best of them you need to check out this tutorial for making plastic bag yarn (AKA "Plarn") from Gooseflesh . Then, make a stylish yet eco-friendly dress for Barbie and perhaps a practical tote.
Check out Instructable's post on plastic bags. There you'll find projects like making a plastic tote bag from recycled plastic bags and no-sew shopping bag wallet, among other cool and inspiring ideas.
This tutorial for making sewable fabric from plastic bags posted by Craftster member Jamie Watch the Stars is a quick and simple step-by-step to follow along with. When you're finished you'll have created a material that can be run through a sewing machine....awesome.
