Plastic Bag Totes

As I have no doubt mentioned before this session I am teaching a wearable art class.  This was our first project. We created a tote bag out of old plastic grocery bags.  This was a great way to make something new and original with something everyone has a million of and wants to get rid of!  The students loved this project.  They got to use an iron, so it required a lot of responsibility and coordination on their parts.  They also had to really work on following step by step instructions and working independently as I bounced around from student to student. They did a wonderful job and these were a highlight in our city wide art show. So many people complemented them, I couldn't have been prouder of their hard work. 

What you need: 

Plastic bags

Iron (ON LOW)

Scissors

Aluminum Foil

Something hard and flat (plywood)

Ruler

Step 1: Prep your bags: Cut the bottoms and the handles off the bags. Cut up the side so your bag lays flat on the table.  Cut out any logos or designs on your bag and put them to the side. With the rest of the bag, cut it into strips that are about 2 inches wide. 

Step 2: Make the Handles: The handles require longer strips of plastic. Take a few bags and cut width way so that they are longer strips.  You will need 6 strips of plastic for each handle. Knot your strips together at one end but leave about 4 inches of extra, not knotted bag for fusing later. Then take a single strip and wrap it around the plastic strips and end at the other end, in a knot. Put your handle in between two pieces of foil.  With your iron on LOW iron the handle.  DO NOT TOUCH THE PLASTIC WITH YOUR IRON!!!!  Then flip the handle over and do it again on the other side.  The plastic should fuse together. 

Step 3: Set up your Tote Bag: Lay out two sheets of foil that are 50”x 20”.  This will make a bag that is 25” tall by 20” wide. Start laying down your first layer of pre-cut plastic diagonally on your foil.  Make sure you OVERLAP your plastic. When your whole foil is covered start your second layer.  This time, lay your plastic down diagonally going the other way so that it creates a crisscross. 

Step 4: Add Details: Now you can take sharpies and pieces of plastic and create designs, these designs will be put into your bag.  BE CREATIVE! When you are done lay your details down on top of your plastic.  Remember! The plastic is going to be folded in half to make the bag!!

Step 5: Add your Last Layer: Cover your graphics with the last layer of plastic.  Be sure to use white or clear bags so you can see your details.