Plastic bag craft

[memnarch]

So, I go grocery shopping frequently and I'm always given those small flimsy plastic bags. I don't use them up as garbage bags and so I am wondering; what can I do with them? I don't want to throw them out as that is not cool and I'm in the mood to create something.

Any ideas?

[Dogmantra]

Set aside a few to reuse. Double layer them if necessary (bit of tape and five minutes' work, done!). That'll get rid of the problem of getting any more.

If you have leftovers after that though, try making parachutes. You'd be surprised how fun it is to cut up plastic bags and see how good a parachute you can make for a cork.

[Cobalt]

If you have leftovers after that though, try making parachutes. You'd be surprised how fun it is to cut up plastic bags and see how good a parachute you can make for a cork.

Half-way through reading that, I was afraid for a moment that you were trying to commit murder.

Idea: Cut the image off of each bag, find a wall, get an image of your own in your head, and paste each mini-image from the stores onto the wall untill you have a giant picture made up of pictures labels.

[thubby]

make mini hot air balloons out of them!

[Tirian]

The only winning move is not to play. Bring your own tote bags when you go grocery shopping.

[memnarch]

Half-way through reading that, I was afraid for a moment that you were trying to commit murder.

Idea: Cut the image off of each bag, find a wall, get an image of your own in your head, and paste each mini-image from the stores onto the wall untill you have a giant picture made up of pictures labels.

Hmmm... I like that one. Especially since I'm at college right now and I could totally put it on someone's door.

[KenderWizard]

If they've got handles, tie the handles together with something light, like thread or fishing line, and go outside and fly them like kites on a windy day!

This is not a practical solution. Tote bags are much more practical. Most stores even sell them pretty cheaply.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

In Toronto, you have to pay an extra 5c per plastic bag. We do use those bags that you buy fruit with in the supermarkets and such to put our fresh-baked bread in.

[SpiderMew]

Well if your not using them as trash bags, then you can save them and use them as stuffing for presents instead of using packing peanuts or bubble rap.
Also allot of stores now have a place where you can bring plastic bags and put them in to be recycled.

[Dallas-Dakota]

Ductape them toghetter, et voila, tarp to sit on. That is, if you go to parks and/or beach or such places.

[memnarch]

Ductape them toghetter, et voila, tarp to sit on. That is, if you go to parks and/or beach or such places.

Ooo! That gave me an idea! I can replace my missing rain coat with a poncho.

Also, I'm currently living in the sticks and none of these stores are taking their plastic bags back. :P

[SpiderMew]

You could twist them and brade the bags into a plastic rope. tie them loop by loop make like 3 long strands, then twist each strand and brade them togeather. It would be pritty strong..

[IonDragon]

My local grocery has a big collection bag for used plastic bags that it claims to take and then recycle.

[Recaiden]

bubble rap

Sounds like an interesting type of music.


You could iron them together into something thicker.

[Strawberries]

I've seen crochet works made with plastic bag. Basically you cut the bag in stripes, and then use it as if it were wool. The results are pretty cool. My mom used to do this when she was younger.

The first english google site I found about it

http://www.needlepointers.com/ShowArticles.aspx?NavID=593.

Oh, also, a site that explains how to do the "yarn". It's in Italian, but the pictures are clear (I think)

http://vivereverde.blogspot.com/2008/10/uncinetto-fatto-con-buste-di-plastica.html

Of course you must know how to do crochet in the first place, but it's not difficult.

[Etcetera]

Cut them into shapes, arrange the shapes into a picture, place between two sheets of grease-proof paper and iron. Repeat until clothing or other item is made.

Simple. Requires very little skill or expertise, just a little bit of creativity. We did it in an art class once, plus my family made bunting for a street party out of plastic bags. Just make sure you can get a good variety of coloured ones.

[Jack Squat]

If you just want to get rid of them, I agree with the people who say to just take it into a grocery store and put it in the recycling center. We ship back all our plastic (and cardboard) to the distributing warehouse where it gets taken to a recycling plant.

However, since you said you wanted to make something, double up on bags and duct tape them together into a sail, or a kite. Put on some roller blades and go to an empty parking lot. Prepare to wipe out a lot.

[Eldpollard]

How about a rather fetching hat? Or cheap wellingtons. They're also a handy and easy to dispose of murder weapon.

[Dr.Epic]

Warning: just don't use a plastic bag as a helmet. It had to be said.

[Bacon Barbarian]

Not a way to recycle, but just buy bags. You can use them whenever you want, and you dont have to use the plastic bags that they give you

[Eldpollard]

Warning: just don't use a plastic bag as a helmet. It had to be said.

Nah, it's fine. Just put a hole in the top and have a snorkel. Practical and convenient.

[Dr.Epic]

Nah, it's fine. Just put a hole in the top and have a snorkel. Practical and convenient.

That'd be cheating.

[Form]

Oh, I know. Remove the bottom of all but one of the plastic bags, stitch/duct tape them together and then you'll have one really long plastic bag! :smallbiggrin:

[Serpentine]

Make clothes. For example:

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5267004,00.jpg
http://fashion-stylist.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/MLeak_PlasticDress.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/speedwayatom/Creations/Recycled/BAG.jpg
http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/images/SF_dump_art_program009.jpg
http://images0.chictopia.com/photos/coldlight/9310240870/9310240870_400.jpg
http://earth911.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/em-co-dressses-300x225.jpg
http://www.lizbradford.com/Art/Artwork/Plasticbagdress.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3746576597_d3c396d43e.jpg
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/f70/f6a/f70f6a43-2ce0-4420-ad1f-ba3cb080084c
http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bilde.jpg

Also a chair why not.

http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/plastic-bag-chair.jpg

[Form]

Will the OP be gracing us with some pictures of his work at some point?


Make clothes. For example:


The bottom dress looks nice, but the others not so much. Still, it's fun to see what people can make with plastic bags. Wearing plastic must feel weird, though.

[memnarch]

If I don't wreck all of the bags I have, I'll try to remember to take pictures.