Monday, January 11, 2021

Grocery Bag Organizer Dispenser

 


 As a crafter, I like to use things I've accumulated to organize my stuff. I can usually find something I need in my recycling bin to help me get organized. Who doesn't love repurposing items? They make for good projects. And there are plenty of them, too! Most of the containers our food comes in like cans, bottles, glass jars and even cardboard boxes can all be repurpose! And with a little creativity, they can be quite decorative and functional, too! 

Take, for example, the Lysol wipes container - and re-using it as a dispenser to hold bags from the grocery store. You'd be surprised how many bags you can put in this container! I know this idea has been around but it's one of the best ideas I've seen to store grocery bags! So I'm making a few to use around my home, too. 

I use grocery bags to line all of my small trash cans - including the ones I have in my bathrooms, craftroom/computer room, and bedrooms. I also use them in the kitchen when I'm cutting up vegetables like celery and onions - you know the cut off ends will clog up the garbage disposal if thrown in - ask me how I know this! I also use garbage bags when I'm throwing out old leftovers from the fridge, tool So you can see why I need several bag dispensers around the house!  I usually just throw the empty bags onto a shelf like this:
 But really,
 it's so easy and simple to turn a wipes container into a decorative bag dispenser! Here's how:

Materials 
Wipes cylinder container - like Lysol or Clorox
Grocery bags
Ruler or tape measure
Self-adhesive Vinyl paper

Directions
Remove the label from the wipes container and thoroughly clean it, including removing the outside glue residue and inside area. Then dry with a paper towel. You don't want any previous liquid residue getting on the bags. Next, measure the area around the container and its' height. Then take a sheet of self-adhesive vinyl paper (Hobby Lobby) .  .  .

turning it over and using the measuring lines on the back to cut out the width and height of the container. You may need to piece the paper together for full coverage. I love this paper because it is sticky on the back so you don't need to have any additional glue to secure it to the container. Did I tell you that it's vinyl, too? Plus, it's removable if you don't line up the edges correctly the first time.

Once the paper is cut to the container size, separate a portion of the backing from the decorative facing at the edge and apply the decorative paper edge to the straight edge line that's on the container (there's one on the side when the plastic container was formed) - this makes it very easy to put the paper on straight.


Once the paper is lined up, begin smoothing it out on the container, while slowly removing the backing.

Continue smoothing the paper on the container while removing the backing .  .  .
until the container is covered. An additional circular piece can be cut out and attached to the top for a pretty decorative look!

Now it's time to roll the bags to fit in the container. 


Lay the first bag out on a work surface - smoothing it to remove any air pockets. The bags have  pleated box ends where you can insert your fingers into each end to easily snap the bags back into the original folded position.

Then fold the bag in half, matching the handles together and again, smoothing the bag out to remove any air.
Then fold the handles over and out to the side .  .  .
and begin rolling the bag neatly toward the bottom.
But before reaching the bottom, place just the handles of another folded bag on top of the first bag in order to get the dispensing effect .  .  .
and continue rolling the bags.
Adding more as you roll - just placing the handles on top of each additional bag.
Just remember to leave the end of the last bag that you roll visible, and then place the handles of the next bag on top of that bag and continue to roll - pushing the air out as you roll.
You should be able to roll up at least forty or more bags - which is a lot! Most wipe containers can hold up to fifty standard size grocery bags.
When you've finished rolling the bags, give a final squeeze to remove any air and insert the rolled bags with the handle sticking out into the wipes container.
After the rolled bags have been placed in the container, attach the top and pull the handles through the slotted opening.
What an awesome way to store bags .  .  .
while leaving space on the shelf to store other items, too! Lol!


It’s time for our monthly blog challenge! Every month a group of blogging friends,  participate in a challenge blog hop hosted by Beverly @Across the Blvd. For the first month of the year, our focus is on Organization Ideas! I'm sure you can’t wait to see how others met this month’s challenge!

Be sure to visit all of these talented bloggers for their organization ideas:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


23 comments:

  1. I love this idea. I always have a ton of grocery bags. I think there is a bag, full of bags, hanging off the back of one of my kitchen chairs right now. I need to make one of these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ann! I think we all have a bag full of bags somewhere in our houses, lol! The wipes container really comes in handy to take care of that!

      Delete
  2. What a pretty bag container. It takes up so much less room and gives the closet a clean look. Very pretty paper too. I will have to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have seen this idea before but thanks for the tutorial on how to fold the bags so they fit and pull out the next one in line-- I am SO going to do this just as soon as we have an empty wipes container to use. Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are quite welcome, Joanne! Knowing how to fold and roll the bags is so important on how they come out of the container. I've been going around the house checking on how low my wipes containers are since I need to make a few more!

      Delete
  4. I keep meaning to make one of these! I need to find someone who uses wipes in a container like this so that I can. Pinned

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really handy to use! The hubs asked to put one near his desk - he likes throwing things away, lol!

      Delete
  5. It really is so pretty. A great upcycle!!!!. Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michele! That's one of the perks for making this - it's easy to decorate!

      Delete
  6. This is a great tutorial on how to fold the bags to make them fit properly and pull out easily. The container looks great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Beverly! I couldn't believe how many bags you can roll to fit in the container. I want to say Whoever originally thought of this idea is a genius!

      Delete
  7. Awesome idea! That’s a lot of bags in a compact container. Thanks for sharing! Have a great rest of your week Gail!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for this post Gail! It's so cute and much needed at my house. Great tutorial. Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a great idea, Gail, but my state has stopped using plastic bags. My current fabric bag that a friend made for me will will soon be obsolete! I will miss the bags when they run out since I reuse them all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is such a great idea, Gail, and my kitchen needs one badly. Thank you for sharing it at the Snickerdoodle Party where you'll be featured this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. China Aluminum Foil Food Packaging is essential for shielding food against exterior microbes and also microorganisms. It can also aid preserve food and ensuring it does not ruin. After food product packaging is eliminated, the shelf life of a food product is considerably minimized.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Can you use any vacuum sealer bags with any machine?
    Whatever your brand of machine, you do have options for bags that are made to be universal, also known as generic. They can be used in virtually any vacuum sealer machine for vacuum seal bags. The Nutri-Lock line of vacuum sealer bags and rolls are just that - universal, so they can be used in any clamp-style vacuum sealer machine.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...