Make a Bag Clip from Plastic Straws

Once opened, a plastic bag is liable to let the food treats spill out if you keep any leftovers. However, using a bag clip can help keep them inside the bag until you finish the contents. In this article, you'll learn how to make a cute bag clip using two plastic straws; it comes complete with a pretty flower accent.

Steps

  1. Select two suitable bendy straws. The color is your choice.
  2. Cut just under the bendy part of one of the two straws, as shown here:
  3. Cut down the center of the straw you have just cut.
  4. Open up the straw lengthwise. It should open cleanly, as this is the "clip on" part of the clip that will slide over both the packaging and flower straw.
  5. Take the remaining uncut straw. Cut small even strips on the short side above the bendy part of the straw. Do this the whole way around so that the result looks the same as in this image:
  6. Curl each cut straw length. Run your nail along each length to make it curl over.
    • Once all of the cut lengths are curled, it will look like this––a flower at the end of the straw:
  7. Add a pompom to complete the flower. This step is optional but it's pretty. Simply push the pompom into the straw hole or glue in place if needed.

Using the clip on packages

  1. Grab the bag that needs to be enclosed.
  2. Fold the bag top once over the flower straw.
    • Here you can see the placement of the flower straw clearly through a clear plastic bag:
  3. Take the other straw that you cut down the middle. Slide this over the folded part of the package to sit snugly over the flower straw underneath the package fold.
    • Here is the same action using the clear plastic bag:
  4. Slide the top straw all the way along the package top and flower straw to sit evenly.
    • The clear plastic bag complete with straw clip in place:
    • Side view of the plastic clip in place:
  5. Store your sealed bags as wished.

Tips

  • The sturdier the straw, the better.
  • This clip could be used on bags other than food, such as craft bags for ensuring that beads, sequins and other small objects don't spill out of the package once it has been opened.
  • Cut the outer, clip-on straw diagonally at the end to make it easier to slide onto the packaging and flower straw.

Warnings

  • This clip does not guarantee a tight seal; it's best for lightweight, small packaging.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic bendy straws
  • Scissors
  • Optional: Pompom and adhesive

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Sources and Citations