Earth Day Craft Project
For those of you who celebrated Earth Day yesterday, hope you had a nice day (and weekend.)
Wanted to pass along an easy craft idea for those of you looking for an easy way to green up your life.
In many areas of the US, there is now a fee for each plastic bag you need when you go to the grocery or retail stores and in many locations you can actually get a credit for bringing your own bags. My area hasn't started charging yet, but I do get $.05 back for each bag I bring which can add up nicely.
Easy-sew do it yourself bags can be made out of men's sleeveless t-shirts. Some places call them A-line shirts and are also known by the awful name of 'wifebeater' shirts. At any rate, turn the shirt inside out and sew the bottom hem together. I'd recommend a heavy gauge of thread or two or three lines of stiching to reinforce. Turn right side out and you're done. The shoulders are ready made handles and being nice soft cotton are easy to carry.
I wouldn't recommend these bags for your really heavy groceries, cans and large bottles and such, but for medium to light-weight stuff and most retail items, this bag will do fine.
You can even decorate your bags to personalize them and the really great part is that, being former garments, can be washed unlike the nasty plastic ones. I'm all for recycling plastic, but news story after news story has shown the sorts of germies that live in the grocery store and you really want to wash your bags every few visits to help keep your family healthy.
Wanted to pass along an easy craft idea for those of you looking for an easy way to green up your life.
In many areas of the US, there is now a fee for each plastic bag you need when you go to the grocery or retail stores and in many locations you can actually get a credit for bringing your own bags. My area hasn't started charging yet, but I do get $.05 back for each bag I bring which can add up nicely.
Easy-sew do it yourself bags can be made out of men's sleeveless t-shirts. Some places call them A-line shirts and are also known by the awful name of 'wifebeater' shirts. At any rate, turn the shirt inside out and sew the bottom hem together. I'd recommend a heavy gauge of thread or two or three lines of stiching to reinforce. Turn right side out and you're done. The shoulders are ready made handles and being nice soft cotton are easy to carry.
I wouldn't recommend these bags for your really heavy groceries, cans and large bottles and such, but for medium to light-weight stuff and most retail items, this bag will do fine.
You can even decorate your bags to personalize them and the really great part is that, being former garments, can be washed unlike the nasty plastic ones. I'm all for recycling plastic, but news story after news story has shown the sorts of germies that live in the grocery store and you really want to wash your bags every few visits to help keep your family healthy.