Hello friends. I’m so glad your visiting me today. How have you been ?
If you’re visiting me, having read the title of this post, then naturally, your a craft or a recycling enthusiast. Either ways, I am so happy to share some of my ideas with you.
Two things that are found in abundance after any seasonal holiday, are, carry bags and wrapping papers. As a nature lover, I find myself investing a lot of my time, energy and creativity around, recycling, reusing and upcycling things. There can be nothing but gains out of this initiative.
Today, I am sharing a very simple idea with you. My children take my craft studio for granted !! They assume that any and every art related supply can be provided on a 24 hourly basis ~ free of charge ~ in my studio !! Hence, finding them snooping around in the studio at odd hours, looking for a special design paper, or a fine nib sharpie, does not surprise me anymore. What’s more, I almost expect them to arrive at the 11th hour, in need of some ‘urgent’ help for a school project !!
Such was the case of my youngest, who, comes in late one evening looking for a large craft sheet for a Ronald Dahl project. I did not have one at my disposal but I noticed I had 2 large carry bags from a baby store, which could fit the bill. A little trimming here and there, a few snips and we had our very colorful chart ready.
Its not something extravagant. Its something very simple which cost, virtually NOTHING !! His classmates never realized that it was just a carry bag turned into a chart paper. (until he pointed it out to them) I am glad, that the few students in his class, now realize, that they too, don’t need to dump large, fancy carry-bags.
They too can use it in numerous ways. If nothing else, Paper bags can be recycled with other paper items, making them as easy to recycle as tossing them in the bin or taking them to a collection center.
I have turned this carry bag into a chart paper for a project. However, because, these carry bags use a sturdy quality of paper so as to carry things, their general quality can serve various other uses too. For instance :-
You can :-
- Cut bits of these in various shapes and stick it to your pencils, as pencil poppers
- Use them to cover journals or autograph books or even book binding
- Cut and stick large heart and star shapes onto a straw and gift it to your class friends etc
- Cut small pieces and make a collage out of it.
- Make a flip book from them.
- Cut thin strips and use in quilling projects
- Cut long and large sheets and make bookmarks from them
- With the help of a paper punch, cut designs and use as a sticker.
- There are several youtube videos to show you how to make small boxes with sturdy and glossy paper.
- You could also make a simple envelope with them.
- Making hats, calls for sturdy chart paper, replace it with our very-own-carry bag !!
- You can also use them in crafts like puppet-making
- Or make large colorful flowers for a wreath !
- Why not make a pin-wheel with this excellent material !
Another important aspect to remember is, that the cord handle of these bags are so useful too !!!
- Attach a bell or a feather and turn it into a cat toy
- Glue some of them into a round coil shape and you have a lovely embellishment for your cards etc
- You could also hot glue some of them in a coil shape and attach it to a hair pin
- Use them in string art
- Glue them on a toilet roll and get your little ones to use it as a painting accessory for textures.
These are just a few ways of recycling fancy carry bags, but I’m certain, there are dozens more ways of recycling which I haven’t thought off ! Please share with me your efforts in recycling too.
I’m sharing this post with all its ideas at the following parties here
and @ Funky Junk Interiors
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