We’re always seeking enjoyable and simple ways to reduce our footprint on the planet and reuse as many materials as we can. One of the most straightforward ways we’ve come across is using recyclable retail bags. We’ve found that taking our bags for grocery retail shopping to the store can help reduce the need for disposable retail bags made of plastic. In the spirit of the Earth Day celebration this year, our girls have created their grocery bags that can be reused.
These bags are ideal for holding a tiny amount of food items. They are also suitable for girls to shop in Joann’s, Target, and 5 below, where they like to spend the money they earn by selling our fast custom boxes.
This small step may appear to have an enormous impact on Earth However, but we’d like to share the message that many small actions can help the planet.
Items to make a Reusable Retail Bag
- Canvas bags
- Acrylic paint
- Fabric markers
- paintbrushes
- cardboard
- sealant (optional)
Creating these kids’ reusable grocery bags require empty canvas retail bags. These canvas bags are available purchased from Wal-Mart. However, Amazon has many different designs, sizes, colors, and sizes at a great price.
We chose a bag with a white, grey and black tote. Although it seemed like it might not be the best choice to paint, it worked out very well. Make sure your paints are evenly applied and thick when using dark-colored retail bags.
We also utilized fabrics marker as well as acrylic paint. While we didn’t seal the painting on the bags, you might want to apply something to ensure that your design is kept solid and vibrant.
Designing Your Bag for Retail shopping
We first created our work area. We had to make sure the totes were level to paint them quickly. I laid on a drop cloth that the children could paint on.
If the bags or totes were folded inside their packaging and you’re not sure if they’re folded, iron them to have a flat, smooth surface to work on.
Once our bags were packed, I scoured the house for a few pieces of cardboard that I could put inside the bag. This ensured that the paint wouldn’t get absorbed into the bags (I doubt that it would have given the canvas’s size. However, it’s better to be safer than regretting!). This also gave the girls a firm working surface.
We started by drawing our ideas using pencils on the retail bags. The canvas allowed the girls to erase their designs if they needed it quickly.
Here are a few of the ideas for design concepts we thought of:
- Earth/recycled themes
- A scene
- inspiring message or words
- abstract colors/designs
After they had their ideas drawn on the bags, they started painting. We used regular paint brushes and acrylic paints. It’s possible to use a fabric-specific color, but we found that the acrylic paint was just as good.
In some designs, we utilized fabric markers for outlines of the structures. This helped draw more clearly defined lines and borders on light-colored retail bags.
The final product turned out beautifully, and we are incredibly pleased with our final product. If you’re planning to create your reusable retail bag, we would like to see your finished product. Make sure you include us on Instagram whenever you post photos @fastcustomboxes.
