Move over paper & plastic - Make a cool and easy grocery bag from an old shirt!

September 3, 1:13 PMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Ultimate recycling: Turn an old shirt into a tote in 5 minutes!

There's a lot of talk these days about not using plastic grocery sacks because they fill up landfills and not using paper because they waste trees.

So here's an easy solution that costs NOTHING! Can't beat free! It's like the ultimate recycling project and it is much cooler than those fabric totes that are at the ends of store isles too.

Plus this is something kids can help you make and you can use the craft as an opportunity to teach them about the environment and the benefits of not wasting things.

I got the basic idea for these from a friend of mine who works in the local recycling facility educating children about recycling's benefits.

Here's how you make the T-Shirt Tote Bags.

1. First find an old t-shirt.
2. Lay it out flat on the table and cut off the arms.
3. Turn it inside out and sew the bottom of the shirt together.
4. Sew the edges of the shirt sleves. This is optional, as jersey knit material that t-shirts are made from won't fray.
5. Turn the shirt outside in, and voila! You've got your free t-shirt tote bag (see photo below). These bags are better than those fabric totes because you've recycled something to make it.