Tag: plastic

Faster plarn cutting

On By CarynIn Craft

I have had plastic grocery bags waiting to be processed into plarn (plastic yarn) for … well, let’s just say it has been awhile.

Plastic shopping bags waiting to be processed

The technique I have been using involves folding and cutting one bag at a time, which is why they have languished on the hook, waiting. I decided to try a different method, using a cutting board and a rotary wheel. I pull each bag flat, which easiest by finding the bottom corner and pulling on the handle, and stack it on the cutting board. Pictured is a stack of five bags. I then used a ruler that is one inch wide and my rotary cutter to cut off the sealed bottom.

Five bags being cut with a rotary cutter

I continue up the bags, cutting one inch strips using the ruler, until I reach the handles. This gives me approximately 60 plastic loops for 13 passes of the cutter. I do discard the bottom and top of the bag. I have cut up to seven bags at the same time comfortably, and could probably go higher, when I’m feeling brave.

Plastic bag loops, ready to be made into plarn

It is definitely worth getting out the cutting board and rotary cutter to process bags, this goes so much faster than with scissors. The loops are more consistent as well, using the ruler, than eyeballing the angle with scissors.

Spools

On By CarynIn Life Hack
Spools for holding plastic string made from recycled ribbon spools, bowls, and bottle tops.

So I’ve been madly making plastic bottle string with my cutter. As it piled up on the kitchen counter, I started to wonder the best way to keep it neat, because all that curly string loves to tangle. I did have a left-over ribbon spool, which works OK, but doesn’t hold much.

Paper bowl spool made by attaching the two bowls together with a metal brad.

I had another idea to use a brad to attach two paper bowls. This one holds a bunch of string and is very inexpensive.

My best idea, though, was to use the bottle tops that were left over from making the string and melt the rims together to make spools! The plastic melts together over a candle and sticks together really well. Plus, more of the plastic bottle gets used! Yay! (I’m sure I can figure out some uses of the neat little cup that was the bottom of the bottle too. It just has to percolate for awhile in my brain.)

So here is a short video on how to make the spools from plastic bottles. Happy Day!

Quick Dog Water Dish

On By CarynIn Life Hack

My dog really likes to go on walks. Like he turns inside out when he figures out we are going for a walk. (I have yet to figure out how to video his freak outs, because I’m usually driving. As soon as I stop and pull out the camera, he stops, and if there is anyone else in the car, he doesn’t do the same thing. Silly dog.)

I have tried several portable water dishes, seen even more, but I always forget to grab one when we head out. I have a very timid dog, and he won’t drink from water poured out of a bottle, or out of my hands (and… ew.) After one particularly hot walk I was desperate to give him water and I happened to have a quart sized zip closed plastic bag in the car (go figure, I almost always have one of these). I folded it over into a dish and poured in water and he drank! Hurray! The bag is light and easy to carry and dries out well. Plus I’m reusing it! (I know there is a case of single use plastic water bottles in this picture. It is my emergency stash, in case I forget the reusable bottle.)

I also put together a quick video demonstrating how to fold a bag into a bowl. I hope this life hack helps you as much as it helped me!