Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets

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Square feature image of two colorful recycled plastic bag friendship bracelets on a white background.

Learn how to make recycled plastic bag friendship bracelets using simple household supplies. This fun craft for teens and tweens turns colorful plastic grocery bags and beads into wrap-style bracelets that are both creative and eco-friendly.

Supplies

  • Three colorful plastic bags
  • Scissors
  • Beads and charms (optional)
  • A bead with a wide hole (about 8mm or 1/4-inch) is used to make a sliding knot to clasp.

How to Make Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets

STEP 1:

Flatten a plastic bag and cut about 1.25-inch-wide strips in a zig-zag pattern as shown to make one long continuous streamer of plastic bag.

Note: Do not cut all the way across the bag, leave 1.25-inches uncut on each side as shown above.

Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets - Step 1 with measurements-min
Cut plastic bags in a zig-zag pattern.
Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets - Step 1;A - cut plastic bags into strips
Shown are three plastic bags already cut and in different colors.

STEP 2:

Knot the three bag strands together at the top, then braid tightly to form a rope as long as you’d like. If a strand breaks, simply tuck it back in and continue braiding. Trim any loose ends when finished.

Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets - photo shows braiding plastic bag strips
Braid the three plastic bags together.

STEP 3:

Use a bead with a wide hole and feed the ends of your bracelet (in opposite directions as shown) through to make a sliding knot to adjust your bracelet, making it tighter or looser on your wrist.

Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets - Step 3- sliding knot with a bead with a wide hole
Use a bead with a wide hole to make a sliding knot.
Recycled Plastic Bag Friendship Bracelets PIN2 - Vertical Pinterest Pin to share.
Star divider used has two hand drawn lines with a star in the center, used as a content break and signals new or different content below. This doodle style illustration is in a medium charcoal gray.

– MORE TO EXPLORE –

Tissue Paper Rainbows + Sparkly Paper Beads + Graduated Pony Bead Bracelets

Square feature image of a hanging mobile made out of small plastic toys.
Photo of multiple colorful paper beads drying on a skewers.
Square feature of two graduated pony bead bracelets. One has neutral brown and caramel color beads with a carved looking daisy bead as a spacer. The second bracelet is colorful in multicolors like red, purple, pink, aqua, bright greens with a sterling silver heart at the center.
Square feature image of a hanging mobile made out of small plastic toys.
Repurposed Toy Mobile
Photo of multiple colorful paper beads drying on a skewers.
Sparkly Paper Beads
Square feature of two graduated pony bead bracelets. One has neutral brown and caramel color beads with a carved looking daisy bead as a spacer. The second bracelet is colorful in multicolors like red, purple, pink, aqua, bright greens with a sterling silver heart at the center.
Graduated Pony Bead Bracelets

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