Storage boxes can be used to hold everything from guest towels to blankets, so you can never really have too few around your home. Instead of buying them new, why not embrace your crafty side and do your bit for the planet by recycling a couple of paper shopping bags? All you’ll need is:
- About 3 Paper Bags
- Glue
- Clothespins
- Scissors
Start by cutting the bottoms off your paper bags – if they happen to have handles, you’ll want to remove those too. Next, horizontally cut what you have left into1-inch strips. The size is up to you – it depends how big you want your baskets to be – but 1-inch should be good for your first try. Fold those strips again horizontally until you end up with strips 4 bags thick. Make 6 strips for the bottom and 3 to weave around the sides.
Place your strips in a weave over and under pattern, using clothes pins to secure the top edges together. Fold where you want your sides to begin. When you get to the end of the strip, glue it to itself and use a clothespin until it dries. Keep going up the basket, securing each strip in turn.
When all the strips are woven in, make sure everything is tightly woven by giving things a good tug, then trim to the top edge and glue each top piece in place. Use one strip over the top edge to finish it before creasing the others. If you like, you can use some twine or other light rope to secure everything in place. Now you have the ideal place to store craft supplies for your next paper bag project!
We already know how crafty paper shopping bags can be, but it’s always fun to hear of more projects you can get done with nothing more than an old bag.
