Knits ~n~ Purls ~n~ More

A recyled tote bag

 

Fuse a stack of plastic shopping bags into a durable, water-resistant carryall, great for toting sleepover gear, wet bathing suits, or sandy beach treasures.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
9*?10?plastic shopping bags (use only those labeled No. 2 HDPE)
Scissors
Parchment paper
Iron
Ironing board
Colored duct dtape

Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Cut the handles and bottoms from 8 shopping bags. Arrange the bags into two equal stacks. Make sure any printing on the top and bottom bags faces inward.

Step 2. Sandwich one of the stacks between two pieces of parchment paper, making sure the plastic is entirely covered. Beginning with the iron on a low setting, such as synthetics, move it steadily over the stack until the bags shrink and fuse together. If the bags do not fuse after 2 or 3 minutes, increase the iron?s temperature. You may need to experiment to get the heat just right. Avoid touching the plastic directly with the hot iron. Set the fused sheet aside and repeat with the other stack.

Step 3. To create one long sheet of plastic, lay the two sheets end-to-end, overlapping by one inch. Then iron the overlap between layers of parchment paper to fuse the sheets together.

Step 4. Have your child choose colored plastic bag strips to decorate the outside of the sheet. Iron these plastic pieces to the sheet between parchment paper, as in step 2.

Step 5. Lay the sheet decorated-side down. Fold it so that the short ends match up, and tape the sides of the bag together. Trim the top of the bag to even the edges. For each handle, lay a 9-inch-long piece of tape in the center of an 18-inch-long piece, sticky sides together, then tape the handles to the inside of the bag.

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Sunglass case

 
Fit to be Tied

For Father's Day this year, update Dad's wardrobe with a fashionable new tie and recycle an outmoded one into a stylish sunglass sling.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
An old tie
Scissors
Waxed paper
Tacky glue
Self-adhesive Velcro-dot fastener
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Cut the tie as shown (A) so that it?s 16 inches long.

2. Slip a piece of waxed paper into the wide opening. Then, run lines of glue around the edges of one half of the tie, as shown.

3. Fold the tie in half and curl the cut edge inside the opening at the opposite end (B).

4. Glue the cord ends in place and add a Velcro-dot fastener. Set a book on top of the tie to press it flat while the glue dries.

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Waterproof Beach Bag

This colorful, rinseable carryall is the perfect beach bag for kids — great for packing up gear, collecting sandy treasures, or toting wet suits and towels.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
13-gallon garbage bag
Scissors
Colored duct tape (we used red and white)
Marker or pen
Yardstick or measuring tape
4 (2-foot) pieces of white cotton cording

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours
1. Turn the garbage bag into a large sheet by cutting along one side seam and the bottom seam. Tape the sheet flat to your workspace and draw a 16- by 30-inch rectangle on it. Cover the rectangle with slightly overlapping strips of red and white tape.

2. Cut out the tape rectangle and flip it tape-side down.

3. Lay 2 pieces of cording across the rectangle about an inch from one of the shorter ends. Fold that end over the cording and tape it down to make a casing. Repeat this at the opposite end with the other pieces of cording.

4. Fold the rectangle in half and tape the sides together to form the bag.

5. To make the drawstring, pair up one cord from each casing and knot them together at both ends. Repeat with the remaining 2 cords, then pull one knot at each side to cinch the bag.

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Jean Pocket Purse

Jean Pocket Purse

Recycle a pair of pockets into a hip tote bag.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
A pair of old blue jeans (for the purse's pockets)
Scissors
Fabric glue
4-foot long thick cotton cord
Needle and thread
2 Velcro tabs
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Start by cutting a pair of matching back pockets from old jeans, leaving at least 1 inch of material around the pockets.

2. Place one cutout pocket side up on your work surface. Line both sides and the bottom edge with fabric glue (we used Crafter's Pick), then carefully lay the second cutout pocket side down directly on top of it, securing them together.

3. Fold down the fabric at the tops of the pockets and glue in place. Allow the glue to dry.

4. When the glue is dry, turn the bag inside out.

5. For a strap, tie a knot at each end of a 4-foot length of thick cotton cord. With needle and thread, sew one end of the cord along each side of the bag.

6. For a closure tab, glue or stitch 2 Velcro tabs just inside the top of the bag.

Check out this cute lil Leprachaun

Even if you can't catch a leprechaun this March 17th, you can still make one.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Toilet paper tube
	Green craft foam
	Acrylic paints: green, skin-tone, pink, and brown
	Black permanent marker
	Tacky glue
	4 brown pipe cleaners
	Decorative button
Time needed: About 1 Hour

1. For this crafty little decoration, first trace around the end of a toilet paper tube onto a piece of green craft foam.

2. Draw a 2 1/2-inch circle around the first circle, then cut them both out to create a hat top and brim and set them aside.

3. Next, using acrylic paints, paint the paper tube green. Add a skin-tone face and hands, plus rosy cheeks, as well as a band of brown paint around the back for hair.

4. Once the paint has dried, use a permanent marker to draw on facial and clothing details, then use tacky glue to stick on 3 coiled brown pipe cleaners: 2 in the back for hair and 1 around the face for a beard. For feet, fold another pipe cleaner in half, then tightly coil and pinch the ends, as shown.

5. Place the folded pipe cleaner inside the tube and glue the feet to the edge. Glue on the hat top and brim and a 5 1/2- by 1/2-inch strip of craft foam for arms.

6. Finally, glue a decorative button to the hat brim.

 Aren't these the cutest things?? 

Teach your kids the art of quilling, a decorative paper-rolling technique, then round up a set of these message-bearing spring icons.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Colored paper
	Toothpick
	Card stock
	Glue
	Googly eyes
	Clothes pins (2 per note holder)
	Magnetic strip (optional)
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. For each, start by cutting a few dozen 1/8-inch-wide strips of colored paper, each at least 4 inches long. Curl each strip tightly around a toothpick.

2. Next, cover a rounded, 3-inch card stock body with glue and attach the curls. Cut out a card stock face and ears, adding googly eyes and other facial features, and glue them all in place. Allow the glue to dry.

3. For the legs, which also serve as note holders, glue 2 clothespins to the back of the body. Stand the critter on a table or attach magnetic strips to the back and stick it to your fridge, then post your message in the clips.