Fabulous Friday Recycled Find

Today's Fabulous Friday Recycled Etsy find is an

Upcycled White and Yellow Plarn Tote Bag

by debs1967

Here is an awesome bag made with "plarn". What's plarn you ask?
"Plarn is made by cutting strips of plastic bags that are turned into a 'Yarn'."

Debs1967 made this bag by tightly crocheting together plastic grocery bags and light green string.
Tight stitches add to the strength and durability, leaving "no holes" that your change could fall through.
Also has a double layered handle.
It's lightweight and versatile enough to use for the store or as a purse, the beach, for the library, or anything else you can think of.

Debs1967 is based out of Melbourne Florida and has her shop open since April of 2008. Besides recycled bags, she also offers other beautiful crocheted items such as kitchen scrubbies and towels, appliques and even crocheted doughnuts! She is offering free shipping on selected items as well as a free gift with your purchase.

Fabulous Friday Find!Trans-Canada Etsy Team Blog: Earth Day Preview : Eco-friendly Products and Upcycling Tutorial

Here is my fabulous Friday find! I found this awesome recycling idea on the
Trans-Canada Etsy Team Blog: Earth Day Preview : Eco-friendly Products and Upcycling Tutorial

Save your cereal boxes and other boxes to use for mailers. I am going to try this.

My newest project-fused plastic coin purse

Okay, so I am unemployed and nearly broke, so I am trying really hard to keep myself amused these days. Yesterday I decided to make a little coin purse from plastic grocery bags that I fused together. I used yellow bags and hand sewed it together with black thread and sewed on a black button. This took me nearly all evening, as my sewing skills are really bad...I think I may take some sewing lessons once I go back to work....Anyways, it was a fun project and I am now using it in my purse to hold my loose change. I also made more shipping envelopes. They are working out great, but take forever to make. Just a little less plastic bags in the landfil....

So, what do YOU use plastic grocery bags for???

I never gave it much thought until I read a tutorial on Etsy for fusing plastic bags. http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/fusing-plastic-bags-with-the-etsy-labs/1098/

I normally just use them to line my small trash cans. I have used them also for adding padding to shipping boxes.

Anyways, while looking through the tutorial, I was amazed that fused plastic could be used for things like wallets and handbags. Wow! A few hours later I had an epiphany...and thought I could make shipping envelopes from fused plastic grocry bags, so this am I got out a huge pile of bags, my iron, some scissors and a sheet of parchment paper and started cutting and ironing. It took me all morning, but I made 3 different sizes. Small ones, medium ones and sorta medium ones. They seem to be pretty darn sturdy, so I think I will try them out for my next shipment and see what happens.

New recycled paper projects and zipper pulls

I have been a little busy with new stuff. I made a few bottle cap zipper pulls. I also made a new batch of paper "pulp" and made a bunch more easter eggs that will be magnets. I also made a couple of flowers that will also be magnets, a big heart that I think will be for display for my upcoming shows and made another pencil holder. I need to get some glaze so I can finish it. Oh and I got real creative and made a saguaro cactus...kinda reminds me of a pickle, though. LOL This will probably be a magnet as well. I need to get more magnets too. I have more ideas for decorating pencil holders other than painting flowers on them, which by the way is the ONLY thing I can draw. I can only make one at a time because I am using a heavy glass container as a mold and it takes forever to dry, like a week. I am looking for plastic things to use instead, but haven't found anything yet. My photos show the stuff that I have done already, just waiting for the rest of the eggs, flowers and beads to dry. Ho hum...