Up-Cycled Projects from Cardboard or Plastic Bags

Projects from recycled items are always fun. But many of them involve harder to come by items like picture frames or discarded furniture. Don't get me wrong I love those projects too. But what about crafts from things that we have way too much of? Here are a few that I found around the web. Enjoy and let me know if you have any other favorites.

1. Crocheted Shopping Tote : This is a reusable shopping bag crocheted from the plastic bags you get at the grocery store. Its a great project for doing in front of the TV at night and could make a good homemade Holiday gift. If you have never crocheted before it is fun and easy. But you might want to do a practice project in yarn first. Plastic bags are slightly harder to work with. I modified this pattern by doing a double stich instead of a single stich. I also tried doing a mesh type stich but that wasn't strong enough.
2. Retail Bag Wallet : This is a cool idea although maybe not as useful as the tote. Keep in mind that this also simply teaches you to make plastic cloth. So you could get creative and make something other than a wallet.
   
3. Shadow Box: A great way to display your favorite eccentric trinkets while not cluttering up other surfaces. I love projects that find valuable uses for discarded cardboard. The project calls for cork tile. But maybe you could use wine corks cut in half and glued to card board.
   
4. Crocodile Halloween Costume: This design is quite creative. But the basic message is, its cool to make your Halloween costume out of cardboard. My boyfriend and I have been a cardboard shark, whale shark, preying mantis, and cactus over the years. I personally think its even funnier if your costume looks like its made of cardboard.
   
5. Cardboard Cat Bed: This is just hilarious. Its a great looking cat bed made from cardboard. If you're like me, your cat loves card board boxes but you don't like the way they look in the middle of the floor. This is a great solution. Really you have to click the link and see the picture. It even comes with a template.
   
6. Solar Oven: This is a variation of a cardboard box covered in tin foil. Its kind of like a slow cooker that uses reflected heat to cook the food outside. It sounds quite useful for car camping type of activities. There are tons of various designs out there. This is just one version so look around.