How to Make a Reusable Trick or Treat Bag

I love a good (and EASY) T-shirt upcycle and this one is exactly that!  If you've got ten minutes and a quarter, you too can make a fabulous trick or treat bag that is kinder and gentler on the earth.  Not to mention a major upgrade from the pillowcase that I used to use as a kid!

Whilst shopping at my local Goodwill Clearance Center, I started to run across super cute Halloween kids shirts....all throughout the year.  And I ended up with a stack of 'em.  For this project, I used just one from my stack along with a pair of scissors and a sewing machine.  If you have a little one just learning to sew, this is an excellent project!

If you'd like to see a brief video demonstration, you can check that out here...it's less than two minutes! Or you can follow these simple steps:

1.  Cut both of the sleeves and the collar of the shirt away.
2. Turn your T-shirt inside out and use the bottom hem as a guide to sew a straight line across the bottom opening of the shirt.
3.  Turn your bag right side out and DONE!

It really is that easy.  And what a great way to balance out the waste of all those candy wrappers!

FaBOOlous Friday

Just ten days left until Halloween.  For all those who waited to decorate or pick up party  supplies here are some of my favorite ideas from around the web:

 Juice Box Monsters from Crafts by Amanda

Plastic Bag Pumpkin from Crafts for Kids (...and kids at heart!)

 Book Page Pumpkin from Creations by Kara

  

 Suit of Armor (you've heard of plastic bottle armor haven't you?) by Kosuke Tsurmura

 LEGO Halloween Costume by Instructables

 Plarn Pumpkin Trick or Treat Bag by My Recycled Bags

 Mummy Lanters by Crafting a Green World

Happy Halloween crafting!

So Many Uses for Those Used Dryer Sheets!

For the times when line drying your clothes just won't do, it's likely that you toss a fabric softening sheet into the dryer along with your wet clothes.  When your clothes are all dry, you likely toss that used sheet into the trash (well except for the ones that stick to your clothes in somewhat obtrusive places).  What else are you going to do with it, right?  Believe it or not, there are a ton of options!

Here's a great list of things you can do with old dryer sheets to keep your home spic and span and smelling fabulous.  To that list, here are a couple of other crafty things you can make with them.

1.  Make a ghostly plant stake for Halloween.  Simply place a ball shaped bunch of batting (or, as in this case - dryer lint) and tie it off around a bamboo skewer. 

2. Handmade Mamas has another really cute ghost craft using gauze, but I think you could easily substitute a dryer sheet.

3.  Sew up a sachet for the lingerie drawer and toss in some dried up buds from the garden.  If you use scented dryer sheets you won't have to worry about adding your fragrant flower buds as the dryer sheet will still hold on to some of its own scent.  Add a little scrap of fabric and viola!

 

Do you reuse your dryer sheets?  Tell us how below in the comments!