DIY Car Trash Bag

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I don't know about you, but my car tends to gather trash . . . quickly. I wanted something to hold my trash in the car that would be cuter than say, a plastic grocery bag. Despite the length of this blog, this DIY duct tape trash bag is actually quite simple to make, and probably only takes 20 to 30 minutes! 

What you need: 
1) Straight edge (a ruler would be better, but a children's book worked just fine for me!)
2) Stapler
3) Duct tape (JoAnn's has a ton of duct tape with cute designs...like the cheetah print one)
4) Doggy Bags
5) Scissors
6) Tissue Paper
7) Index Card (but if you have a ruler, that will work better)

Step 1: Smooth out your tissue paper. I think my tissue paper was probably 18" square. 

 Step 2: Begin placing strips of duct tape (if you're making bag with printed duct tape, use that here) at the bottom of the tissue paper, and continue until you reach the top of the tissue paper. The strips should be about 12" in length. 

Step 3: After you have finished laying the duct tape down, trim any extra tissue paper off of the top and bottom. 

Step 4: Lay a piece of 12" duct tape on the edge of the tissue paper, so that only half of it is actually covering the paper. If you're wanting to do a contrasting color for trim, use that here. 

Step 5: Fold the other half of the duct tape down on the back side. This creates a smooth top edge. Repeat on the other end. 

Step 6: As you did in the beginning, lay pieces of duct tape down on the tissue paper. This will reinforce the bag and make it a little bit sturdier, and easier to clean if any liquids are spilled in it!

Step 7: Now it's time to make the handle! I like mine to be big enough that I can slip it over the gear shift in my car. My mom likes hers to be a little bit longer so she can hang it over the back of the headrest. For the gear shift handle, tear off a piece of duct tape so that it is about 10" long, then fold it in thirds as shown below. 

Step 8: Overlap the ends of the handle, and place them just below the top of the bag, on the inside! Then put a small square of duct tape and place it over both ends of the handle. 

Step 9: Fold the bag in half, with right sides together.

Step 10: Use your index card (or ruler) as a guide for where to place your straight edge. Measure from the center of your handle, so that it's even on each side. Then, place your straight edge accordingly and carefully cut a line. Repeat on the other side. 

Step 11: Staple down each side of your bag to close the sides, in as STRAIGHT a line as possible. (Please excuse the chipped nail polish!)

Step 12: This part is a little difficult to explain, but once you do it you'll understand! Reach inside the bag and push out a little triangle on one side of your bag, and press is down to flatten it from the outside (Top Left). Then, using a cut off section of your index card, measure a small distance in from the tip, and create an imaginary line where you will staple across (Top Right). Mine was about 2" in from the tip. Then staple across, in as straight a line as possible (Bottom Left & Right). Repeat on the opposite side. 

Step 13: Now, fold in your little triangles so that they are flat against the bottom of the bag, and tape down. This will give your bag a nice rectangular/square shape. 

Step 14: Turn your bag right-side out and place a doggy bag in it! I like to keep the rest of the roll of doggy bags in the bottom of the duct tape bag, but anywhere inside your car would work well too! The plastic doggy bags are the perfect size and fit really nicely inside the duct tape trash bag. Slip the handle over your gear shift and never worry about trash filling up your car again!

XO, Lindsay