I was going to write an article on different ways to reuse & recycle plastic carrier bags but then I started seeing such great pieces made from fusing the bags that I thought they deserved their own post — some really amazing stuff.

• I love, love, love Emily Grace and the Yellow Suitcase jewellery made from fused plastic bags and wire. Some of the pieces are delicate delights others bright & bold – but always beautiful.
• Sticking with jewellery, Raw Skies Studio make lovely flower brooches – pretty pansies and dramatic red roses.
• Moving into the more practical realm, there are some very nice strong fused plastic shopping bags & tote bags around – Radical Recycks makes some lovely ones. This Spongebob one is more of a handbag/purse but how fun!

• And to go in that bag, how about a fused plastic wallet? I really like the use of layered patterns on this wallet from Bece but equally the geometric shapes from kurbantrash (right) are very cool too.
• If you just need something for your cards, Ecoark make fused plastic credit card holders
• And following on from that, OfLandandSea combines fused plastic with strips of scrap fabric to make protective but cool passport protectors.

• But wait! Fused plastic fun isn’t just for grown-ups – how cute are these fused plastic bibs? And these mobiles would be pretty against a window in a nursery.
• Finally, I love the use of fused plastic and letters from different bags to protect and decorate this sketch book.

We all know to say “no” to carrier bags these days & use reusable ones instead – but in case you’ve got any of left over from before you saw the light… how to fuse together plastic bags. Rubbish Revamped in Manchester also run workshops on fusing plastic which are a great way to get started if you’re scared of melting plastic!

(Photo of a very pretty hairclip by EmilyGraceSuitcase; a bold & fun wallet by kurbantrash; and a cuter-than-cute bib by recyclemoe)