What a great way to recycle something to get more use out of it before throwing it away. Making a doormat from plastic grocery bags will not only help you re-use things you have, it will protect your flooring from dirt that would otherwise get tracked inside. Even if you already have a doormat, these work great on especially wet or muddy days. You can simply toss them once they have served their purpose.
You will need lots of bags for this project, but if you collect them like I do, you probably have plenty. You can use bags that are all the same color or mix different colors for a more interesting look.
Take a pair of scissors and slit bags down the side and across the bottom. Cut through the tops of the handles as well. Once you have two even pieces, begin cutting each section into even strips. Cut smaller strips from the smaller sections.
Gather three long strips together and tie them tightly at the top with a smaller strip. Braid them together, and secure the finished end with another small strip. The tighter you braid the strips, the better looking and more solid your mat will be.
Weave the braided strips together in a basket weave pattern to form a woven square. Make a “needle” from cardboard, cutting a hole in the top. Thread a long strip of plastic through the needle and “sew” the edges of the mat together below the spot where you tied each braid together. This will leave a little fringe around the edges. Trim as needed.
Sew as many squares together as you need to form the appropriate size mat. This makes a great craft project for kids, and it is also a great way to teach them how to get the most out of everyday items instead of just throwing away things that might still be useable.