Easy to be green bags.

[Dem]

My new years resolution this year is to be more green/sustainable.
So to help me with this resolution I crafted myself some reusable shopping bags.
With these I wont use plastic or paper shopping bags which are bad for the environment.

The graphic was inspired by a product (Red) bag my friend has.
Her's says (red)uce.
I took this a bit further and made myself recycle, reduce, reuse bags.

The fabric is made from rapidly renewable fibers (to keep it green), 70% cotton and 30% linen.
I got it on sale for $5 a yard at Joann's.

The pattern for the bags I just made up, it's a simple box-bottom tote.

The graphics are stenciled on with acrylic paint and fabric medium.
They took forever to cut out with my handy dandy x-acto knife.
The pictures themselves are adapted from photos I had in my library.

All three:


Recycle (sf skyline):


Reduce (forest):


Reuse (skyline + forest)

please excuse the blur...

let me know what you think!

[crazystargrl]

Great idea and resolution. I love your bags! I also like how you created 3 and what you did with the scenery. Nice job.

[Dem]

Thanks!
I really love how they turned out.
And I use them.
Which is of course the most important part.

[the_christine]

The 3 R's!  Awesome!  They turned out really well, I love your graphics.

[hippiejo74]

  These are great bags!!

[LauraCore]

I love this concept! I want!

[pinkanddinky]

Awesomeness!

[artsgeek]

really nice bags, the graphics are eye-catching!

[petskin]

oh i love those- wish i`d know how to sew... and make  decent stencil

i`d use those bags 24/7

[WitchCatXeen]

These are very nicely made!  I've noticed many stores in my area popping up with cheap cloth bags to sell... I bought one for Ray's Food Place.  Problem is, I always forget to use them.

I'm stupid and didn't know one could use acrylic paint on bags.  I'll have to try that.

Thanks for the inspiration.  Keep up the great work

[RubyTuesday]

Great bags

[Dem]

These are very nicely made!  I've noticed many stores in my area popping up with cheap cloth bags to sell... I bought one for Ray's Food Place.  Problem is, I always forget to use them.

I'm stupid and didn't know one could use acrylic paint on bags.  I'll have to try that.

Thanks for the inspiration.  Keep up the great work

It helps if you try to store the bags in the car. That way they are with you when you go to the store.
Or you could find some of those net crochet ones and keep them in your purse.

[flyangler]

Great example for your fellow shoppers and so very very beautiful.

[Manley Stanley]

Those bags are pretty snazzy. Me= mucho jealous.

[Seraphina_de_Sangre]

I SO want one! My favorite colors are black, red, and white so I LOVE your bags. You will definitely be stylin' when you go shopping. Excellent job.

[kimmasaurus]

i started using paper-only at the grocery b/c at least i could recycle them, and my boyfriend and i just decided to go fabric and make an even more conscious effort to use the bags...  we have the ones from ikea but always forget them when we go anywhere  So to help, i wanted to make big sassy totes to bring shopping, and this gives me the best inspiration!!!  thanks!!

[Dem]

i started using paper-only at the grocery b/c at least i could recycle them, and my boyfriend and i just decided to go fabric and make an even more conscious effort to use the bags...  we have the ones from ikea but always forget them when we go anywhere  So to help, i wanted to make big sassy totes to bring shopping, and this gives me the best inspiration!!!  thanks!!

Good for you going fabric!
The paper bags use as much energy to produce as the plastic and many end up in the landfill anyways.

[artteach7]

I love these.  I love the graphic look and the great design.  I have been using ones I get at other stores, but now I want to paint over those logos!

[kimmasaurus]

Good for you going fabric!
The paper bags use as much energy to produce as the plastic and many end up in the landfill anyways.

that's what i heard about the paper bag making that made me really want to switch too... it's so ridiculous!  i do enjoy making other things out of the paper sacs and use them from time to time, but usually they just sit around the house.  i'm trying to shrink my footprint... and pretty tote bags make it 100x easier!

[Dem]

Good for you!
My next green step may be looking into to reusable pads.
I am not sure if I can do it though.

[kimmasaurus]

Good for you!
My next green step may be looking into to reusable pads.
I am not sure if I can do it though.

you're brave!!  there are just some things i can't go green for... maxi's being one of 'em

[Dem]

Good for you!
My next green step may be looking into to reusable pads.
I am not sure if I can do it though.

you're brave!!  there are just some things i can't go green for... maxi's being one of 'em

I know.
It's kinda a scary messy idea.
But I think I could use them at least over night.
I don't know that they could go to work with me.

[rira]

i love this. the three different ones are done so well and they lookgreat as a set or group.

[psyche]

Those look really classy!

[stitch and stones]

I would totally sport these- they are exactly my style! Good job on them, truly.

[kimmasaurus]

I know.
It's kinda a scary messy idea.
But I think I could use them at least over night.
I don't know that they could go to work with me.

that's true, i never thought of that, but i'm a tampon gal so i have no idea! i have seen a few tutes on here for pads lately tho, maybe other gals have more ideas on transporting them pre/post-useage if they use them outside their homes hahahah

[Dem]

I have seen water proof carry bags for them.
That would be an option.

[CopierThief]

These bags are amazing! I would Definately use them. In fact i've just picked up some massive Coffee sacks (the ones that have the actual beans (pre roasting) and I plan on making bags out of them. I'll have to make some totes to carry groceries in too!

[diy-do-or-die]

mad props

[Dem]

Thanks for all the compliments.

[kjlutz]

I love the print you put on those bags.  They are way nicer than the ones I've been using . 

[thejoysofjess]

Looks awesome!

[zenobia]

so awesome!

[dianajeanne]

By far my favorite