Funky recycled pet food bag purse/tote. by sweetdollymom
Contest WinnerFeatured
bag front.jpg
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.
 
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Step 1: Materials needed

step 1.jpg
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
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petlady67 says: May 19, 2012. 8:55 PM
I rescue animals & get these bags weekly. Different sizes, brands, etc. If someone will make me a bag, I'll be glad to supply you with bags for your other projects.
janeycat57 says: Mar 11, 2012. 5:49 AM
WOW !!! My grandson will love this... He is Austic and loves his cat , I can't wait to get my hands on one of these bags. I guess I will have to talk his mom into buying a big bag instead of the little paper bags or boxes..LOL...
Great Idea and It looks like it's factory made... Fantastic job and great instructions ...
sweetdollymom (author) says: Mar 11, 2012. 7:21 AM
I am so glad. Thank you for the compliments. I have a few friends who have children with autism. Have you seen the cholesterol therapy that they are trying for a treatment. From what I understand they are having phenomenal success with this. I hope he like the bag and take care.
Tih says: Jan 29, 2012. 3:29 PM
What is the size of the bag? Mine are 1,5 kg... Are they big enough or do i need 2?
MomLogg says: Jan 16, 2012. 9:33 PM
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 says: Jul 24, 2011. 8:32 PM
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 says: Jan 14, 2012. 10:28 PM
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 says: Oct 14, 2011. 9:27 PM
This has now become an addiction for me. I make this every time I get a bag. I love these!!!
sparkleponytx says: Jul 19, 2011. 11:42 PM
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 says: May 3, 2011. 9:10 AM
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 says: Apr 16, 2011. 6:29 AM
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 says: Feb 28, 2011. 12:06 PM
that is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anibioman says: Oct 18, 2010. 1:38 PM
i kinda want to make a dog food one
sweetdollymom (author) says: Oct 18, 2010. 5:03 PM
I made a dog food one for my daughter.She loves it.
bryandhispup says: Oct 6, 2010. 6:22 PM
I Hear BEST REUSEABLE SHOPPING BAG nominations ringing... GREAT pictures and great Idea!
sweetdollymom (author) says: Oct 6, 2010. 7:58 PM
Thanks so much . I hear ringing all the time but I just thought it was me.
emjmcs says: May 30, 2010. 8:28 AM

Love It!!! Great Bag!

1-2BGardening says: May 29, 2010. 2:54 PM
 haa haa haa! free advertising for those companies!
techshop1 says: Mar 1, 2010. 7:49 PM
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 says: Sep 30, 2009. 9:31 AM
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 says: Sep 30, 2009. 9:34 AM
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 (author) says: Sep 30, 2009. 10:58 AM
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 says: Sep 30, 2009. 10:15 AM
This is great, I love the idea, but the blurry photos hurt my eyes.
mehoye says: Sep 25, 2009. 5:24 PM
Love this Janet! It's Karin's friend Maureen:) What a cool idea...hope you win!!!
sweetdollymom (author) says: Sep 26, 2009. 9:12 AM
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 says: Sep 20, 2009. 5:42 PM
Very nice tote. Love how "green" it is.
sweetdollymom (author) says: Sep 21, 2009. 6:43 AM
Thanks so much. Being an artist I see possibilities in everything.
talons says: Sep 18, 2009. 8:47 PM
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 says: Sep 14, 2009. 2:41 PM
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 (author) says: Sep 16, 2009. 9:57 AM
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 says: Sep 15, 2009. 9:38 AM
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 (author) says: Sep 16, 2009. 9:58 AM
They are really waterproof too.
sweetdollymom (author) says: Sep 15, 2009. 11:25 AM
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 says: Sep 14, 2009. 5:16 AM
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 (author) says: Sep 16, 2009. 9:47 AM
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 (author) says: Sep 15, 2009. 11:27 AM
The nice thing about this is it is so easy to make for any age. And it makes a fun gift.
answerman says: Sep 17, 2009. 4:00 AM
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 says: Sep 14, 2009. 1:53 PM
I think this is really cool. I am going to make these with my friends.
sweetdollymom (author) says: Sep 15, 2009. 11:26 AM
My daughter and I are going to make these to help out a local shelter. Have fun making them.
DanielleKellogg says: Sep 7, 2009. 8:33 AM
I made one, but a little different. This is such a great recycle idea!
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