Easy, DIY Green Crafts Projects

Try these projects for all your repurposing and crafting needs.

March/April 2009
By Stephanie Nelson 
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Wine Gift Wrap 

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Materials: Long-sleeve button-down shirt
Required time: 15 to 20 minutes

• Using fabric scissors, cut the sleeve off of the button-down shirt and fit the sleeve to the wine bottle from the base to the top.
• Trace a circle slightly larger that the base of the wine bottle and cut it out.
• Flip the sleeve inside out and pin the cut out circle around the base of the sleeve. The sleeve will be larger than the circle, so equally distribute the fabric around the circle.
• Sew the sleeve and the circle together.
• Flip the sleeve again and place the wine bottle inside. For a finishing touch, tie a scrap piece of ribbon or string around the neck of the bottle.

Reusable Shopping Bag 

Materials: Old T-shirt
Required time: 15 to 20 minutes

• Flip the shirt inside out and cut off both sleeves as well as the neck.
• With a marker, draw a curved line a few inches below the neck; make sure it is wide enough for groceries and other goods.
• Sew a line across the bottom hem.
• For durability purposes, fold the bottom of the shirt one to two inches towards the top and sew another line.

Toiletry Tote 

Materials: Two pillowcases, a dowel rod (or a stick) and ribbon.
Alternative: Rather than two pillowcases, try an old towel.
Required time: 45 minutes to one hour

• Iron the pillowcases before beginning the project.
• Sew the tops of both pillowcases closed.
• Lay the pillowcase one (p1) down and pin the top of pillowcase two (p2) to p1 three or four inches down from p1’s top. Depending on the items you put the top pouches, you may want to make this smaller or larger.
• Five or six inches from the top of p2, pin the two fabrics together and sew a horizontal line across the narrow part of the pillowcases.
• Fold p2 into itself a few inches above the previously sewn line. The pocket will be the remanding fabric from p2. Pin the outer sides of the fabric together.
• Fold p1 over the bottom of p2 for the final pocket, and pin the sides.
• Cut four pieces of ribbon six inches longer then the height of the project.
• Pin the ribbon to the project. Leave an inch at the bottom and fold the ribbon over the top to make a loop where the dowel will go. Two of the pieces will be on the outer edges of the project and the other two will be evenly spaced between on the project.
• Sew all ribbon pieces to the project. For durability, sew a horizontal line across the top and the bottom of the project.
• Put the project aside and sew a ribbon or tie a string around both ends of the dowel.
• String the loops of the project onto the dowel or stick and hang it behind the bathroom door.

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