• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Munofore
  • Crafts
  • Gardening
  • Self Care
  • Home
  • Humor
  • Blogging
  • Random Thoughts
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Crafts
  • Gardening
  • Self Care
  • Home
  • Humor
  • Blogging
  • Random Thoughts
  • follow the fun

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Crafts
    • Gardening
    • Self Care
    • Home
    • Humor
    • Blogging
    • Random Thoughts
  • follow the fun

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    That Recipe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program. This site contains affiliate links to various websites, including Amazon.com. Purchases through these links help support this blog at no additional cost to you. read more

    20 Ideas to Reuse Brown Paper Shopping Bags

    Jul 22, 2020 · Leave a Comment

    Reuse brown paper shopping bags into useful items around your home.

    brown kraft paper shopping bag with text overlay "20 awesome ways to upcycle brown paper bag"

    Since the start of the pandemic, my local produce delivery service has turned to large brown paper bags with handles for delivery instead of the reusable boxes they had been using for years.

    Not one to let these beauties end up in the landfill, I decided to make a list of all of the wonderful ways you can use them in the yard, for crafts, or even as home decor.

    In the yard

    leaves being raked with a brown bag nearby

    Compost

    Shred the bags and added to the compost pile to create wonderful nutrients for your garden. You can even get another use out of it by using them to collect leaves, grass and other compostable materials before adding to the compost pile. more details

    Weed Barrier

    A compostable weed barrier? Sure! The bags will break down with the combination of heat a moisture, but they can be used to provide a temporary weed block allowing other plants get established before being over run by weeds. more details

    Gifts and Shipping

    gifts wrapped in brown paper with string

    Gift Wrap

    "Brown paper packages tied up with string..."

    Gift Bags

    Decorate the bag (or leave it plain) put in a large gift like clothes, blankets, board games, etc. Add some tissue paper and a bow and you are done!

    You can even deconstruct larger bags to make smaller bags. more details

    Envelopes

    Envelopes are pretty easy to cut and fold and the brown kraft paper will make your card stand out. more details.

    Gift Tags

    Stop buying gift tags and make your own. You can use these printable templates or search for an SVG file to use your die cutting machine.

    Packaging Material

    Do what the online guys do and use them as padding for shipping. Okay they use rolls of thin kraft paper, but the idea is the same: just wad them up and add to your box.

    Get Crafty

    brown paper crafts arranged on a table

    Book Covers

    Do kids still have to make these? I use to make mine from grocery bags then add photos of friends, comic strips inserts from cassette tapes, etc. Then I covered them with clear contact paper to last the entire school year. I still have a few - thanks, Mom!

    Book/Journal

    Instead of covering the book, make an entire book or journal with the paper for you or the kids. more details.

    Baskets

    Cut the bag into strips and weave them into baskets. more details.

    Origami and Other Paper Crafts

    Cut open the bags and use the paper to make fun paper projects like paper flowers and an origami snack holders and holiday ornaments.

    Cut the bags into 12 x 12 or 8.5 x 11 sizes and use them with your favorite die cutting machine to make all kinds of things.

    Craft Table Cover

    You may not be a messy crafter but I am! Cut open the bags and cover your workspace to protect the table from paints, glue, glitter, etc.

    Make Paper

    Use up the scraps from other projects to make your own paper. more details

    Home Decor

    wall paper peeling off of wall

    Place Mats or Table Runner

    Cut the bag open, then cut into rectangles and decorate for rustic place mats. Or use them in the center of the table like this.

    Planters

    This is a spin on the woven basket above, except it is made around a plastic container that can hold a plant. more details

    Paper Fans and Palm Fronds

    If you have a tropical theme in a room you can fold them into giant palm fronds and fans to decorate the walls. more details

    Cover Floors

    Rip the paper bags into strips, glue them on a cement or plywood floor, then add polyurethane on top. WOW! more details

    A Christmas Tree

    Have you seen the project of turning lunch bags into a mini fall tree? This couple expanded upon the idea to make a full size Christmas tree.

    And finally...

    Donate them

    I know some elementary school teachers that would love to have a bunch of bags for book covers, crafts, desk covers during crafts, etc.

    Contact your local pet shelter to see if they can use them to shred for bedding.

    Recycle them

    If you can't think of anything else, at least make sure they go into the recycle bin instead of the trash.

    « Positive Self-Talk: the First Step to a Better Life
    Walk Your Way to Better Health (Physically and Mentally!) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome

    I'm your hostess, Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home décor, even blog design, I love making and growing things... even if I make a mess in the process.

    Discover more about me →

    Seasonal Projects

    • top down view of dried rose shadow box
      Make a Dried Rose Shadow Box Display to Preserve Memories
    • A Big Hug Card craft for kids
      A Big Hug Card Craft for Kids
    • supplies for red envelope making with text overlay "free printable Red Envelopes for Chinese New Year"
      Free Printable Red Envelopes for Chinese New Year
    • collage of video game themed Valentines with text overlay "25 free printable video game valentines"
      25 Free Printable Video Game Themed Valentines

    Popular Posts

    • elderly woman with family in the background and text "Sudden Dementia Could be Life Threatening."
      Sudden Dementia in the Elderly Can be Life Threatening
    • collage of pallet planters with text "DIY pallet planters: 2 ideas"
      DIY Pallet Planter: 2 Ideas
    • top down view of dried rose shadow box
      Make a Dried Rose Shadow Box Display to Preserve Memories
    • collage of plastic fruit containers with text overlay "Creative ways to upcycle plastic clamshell containers"
      Awesome Ways to Reuse Plastic Fruit Containers

    follow the fun

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Munofore
    • Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Disclosure

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Munofore