Make a Purse out of Plastic Bags
If you have what seems like a million plastic grocery bags at home, don't throw them out. Instead, think about transforming them into a useful little purse. They're a great conversation starter.
Steps
- Cut a few plastic bags into strips. The strips can be as wide or as thin as you want them to be but an inch (2.5cm) thick seems to be rather sturdy and works well for a purse size.
- Choose bags of different colors, as you can see in the images. This makes the purse more interesting.
- Tie or tape strips together to make them longer if you need longer lengths. This requirement depends on how large you'd like the purse to end up – perhaps experiment a little but if the lengths are too short, the project will be difficult to make. Ultimately, the strips need to be twice as long as you expect the purse to be.
- Tape a row of strips to a table or to another solid surface. Be sure to make the row length as wide as you want your purse to be.
- Tape the strips down along what will be the bottom of the purse (see image).
- Take a strip that is as wide, if not wider, than the desired width of your purse and put it under the first strip in the length row. Then weave it over the next length, and then weave it under the next. Repeat this weaving action until all of the strip is woven into the lengths.
- Place the next strip. As before, this strip goes over, under, over, etc.
- Repeat the weaving action with the other pieces. Each time, be sure to push up on the lowest strip to keep it tight and close together.
- Continue weaving until you reach the desired length.
- Cut off what's left. If any pieces are too long, cut them off. Then begin covering the exposed edges with tape.
- Pull the purse off the table or other object that you had it taped to when the purse is covered by the tape. Fold the purse in half lengthwise and tape the sides together. Make sure there are no holes.
- Make a handle by French braiding more strips. You might want to make a lot of French braids, or some other rope making technique and wrap it in tape for extra strength.
- Tape the rope to the sides of the purse and enjoy.
Tips
- Try making it unique by using Sharpies to draw on the bag. It may be fun to do patchwork, for example, color every square a different color.
Warnings
- Don't use biodegradable plastic bags or it will disintegrate on you!
- The purse is not very strong; treat with care and don't over-stuff it. Equally, don't expect a long lifespan but at least you can easily make new ones!
- The purse is flammable near naked flames.
- Do not dispose on wet or damp surfaces; otherwise it will get ruined.
Things You'll Need
- Packing tape (clear)
- Plastic grocery bags
- Scissors
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