Funky recycled pet food bag purse/tote.

This is a purse made from a pet food bag lined with white cotton from and old sheet and ribbon handles. The best ones to use are made from a plastic fiber. You can also use a paper type that you iron an iron-on plastic (available at most craft and fabric stores) to. This bag can be made with any type of bag to reflect your friends or your likes and hobbies.

Step 1 Materials needed

One pet food bag(or bag that describes an individuals likes).
Mat Knife
Scissors
Recycled fabric for lining(I used an old sheet)
Needles or sewing machine
Thread
Ribbon

Comments

[Tih]

What is the size of the bag? Mine are 1,5 kg... Are they big enough or do i need 2?

[MomLogg]

Thank you for the great photos of this project! I am fairly new to sewing and can't follow written instructions very well yet--photos are the most helpful. I saw a cool purse someone had made of a feed bag and have saved a few chicken feed bags for the project, but hadn't found a good instruction unti I saw yours. I'm going to do my purse soon!

[Shingalana]

wondering if I can use some old tshirts as lining for these. also trying to figure out what I can "re-use" for handles rather than purchasing something new. I'm planning some projects like this, with completely re-purposed items, as fund raisers for Earth Day next year.

[heartart]

Hello-
How about men's ties for handles, old suspenders, or lightweight belts? Those would all be easy to find and fun to use in different ways. Or straps cut from old jeans or cords, with a sewn edge to keep them from fraying.

Hope this sparks some ideas for ya!

[sandy-g]

This has now become an addiction for me. I make this every time I get a bag. I love these!!!

[sparkleponytx]

Great project! I've been saving a couple of sturdy bags that sunflower seeds came in (bird food) thinking they were too good to just trash. Now I know what to do with them. Thanks!

[Zmathews]

great idea, i have always went to the store and bought some of those ugly fabric bags so i dont have to use plastic bags but this is pretty and eco friendly ( kind of )

i love it

[rnchm1]

I am in awe of your brillance!!!! I cannot wait until my dogs finish a bag of food!!! I will definately make one of these.

[Abbylynn]

that is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anibioman]

i kinda want to make a dog food one

[sweetdollymom]

I made a dog food one for my daughter.She loves it.

[bryandhispup]

I Hear BEST REUSEABLE SHOPPING BAG nominations ringing... GREAT pictures and great Idea!

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much . I hear ringing all the time but I just thought it was me.

[emjmcs]

Love It!!! Great Bag!

[1-2BGardening]

 haa haa haa! free advertising for those companies!

[techshop1]

Cat Chow Indoor Formula, is the only cat food my sweet Ivy eats.
This is an awesome hand bag, A great idea, since I already have some of those bags saved. I will make one for all my "cat-lover" friends.
Thanks for sharing.
You rock!

[handprints]

awesome! we feed our cats max cat (paper bag) so I will try it with the plastic fusing stuff. and maybe my bags of potting soil or other gardening supply bags...wow. I'm going to be eyeing people's trash much more now!!! Where do I cast my vote??

[handprints]

shoot! I'm sorry, I'm such a dummy. You were a finalist! that is why I clicked on your instructable in the first place!

[sweetdollymom]

That's okay. I'm glad you like it. As an artist (synonym for pack rat) I see possiblities everywhere. Sounds like you do also.

[Ninzerbean]

This is great, I love the idea, but the blurry photos hurt my eyes.

[mehoye]

Love this Janet! It's Karin's friend Maureen:) What a cool idea...hope you win!!!

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much. I hope so too. I have had a lot of people ask me about my bag and I even had one woman follow me through some art studios so she could ask me where to buy it. My daughters teenage friends think it's cool.

[dgteach]

Very nice tote. Love how "green" it is.

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much. Being an artist I see possibilities in everything.

[talons]

This is a cool idea, but you all should really consider switching your pets food to something better. Purina is full of junk.

Here is a good article outlining some basic facts about pet food. http://healthypetsnw.com/articles/commercial_foods.php

If anyone has any questions about foods, feel free to message me :)

[TimTheScarecrow]

the finished product turned out pretty cool. if i were a girl id totally make this. or as i saw someone else say, i might make this for a pet christmas gift or something

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks. They make fun bags to give to someone as a gift too. Especially if you know someone who likes cats of other animals.

[waterbaby]

Make it larger, line with additional plastic pet food bag material rather than fabric, and you've got a strong, reusable, and even manly tote bag!

[sweetdollymom]

They are really waterproof too.

[sweetdollymom]

Cool changes. I like that you can make it your own. Thanks for the positive mput. I'm hoping to start a crafting business at home so the serger would be great. Hope I can get your vote.

[answerman]

I love this thing. Easy to do, inexpensive materials, and strong when completed. I am jealous that I did not think of it first. And as an extra bonus it recycles those bags I hate to throw away. Works with any bag big enough too so I do not have to throw out those feed bags, potato bags, or any other bag. Reminds me of the old time "gold medal" diapers from the flour bags! Great idea

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks for the comment. I have been sewing since I was 5 and I have taught sewing to everyone from my kids to teenagers. We recycle a lot of stuff (occupational hazard for an artist) and this seemed just perfect I have gotten a lot of compliments on my bag and a lot of people have asked how to make it.

[sweetdollymom]

The nice thing about this is it is so easy to make for any age. And it makes a fun gift.

[answerman]

Just thought of this.... Feed bags for livestock are usually the woven plastic and are great to hold things. Farmers could use this idea to help carry smaller amounts of produce for farmer's market sales as a sales bag. good because they are cheap and memorable for the customer as advertising. Any large bag would do for almost any purpose, they do not have to be ladies purses.

[dragonslayer1135]

I think this is really cool. I am going to make these with my friends.

[sweetdollymom]

My daughter and I are going to make these to help out a local shelter. Have fun making them.

[DanielleKellogg]

I made one, but a little different. This is such a great recycle idea!

[sweetdollymom]

Yours looks fantastic! I'm glad you like the idea. I have a lot of people ask me where I bought it.

[DanielleKellogg]

Thanks, I'm giving this one to my boss. But I have some more bags to make one for me.

[reticledc]

I think that is such a great idea. Cat food bags are something that, even though I have always wanted to think of a use for, I never actually thought about it. They are so rugged, and it's a shame to waste them. I have used them to collect construction debris, but that's about it.