Bags of Opportunity

Materials

• Poster or newspaper
• Cardboard strips (used to strengthen the bags)
• Pritt Glue stick  and adhesive gel
• Rope for handles
• Wooden block for shaping
• Punch
• Scissors and ruler

Making a 'book bag' from a Deutsche Bank poster.  This is sturdy, large & able to hold several books (pics attached).  They will be sold at the Cart Horse Protection Assoc's booksale at Cavendish at the end of August so this should be a relevant choice.

Tip:  Creating the bag is very similar to wrapping a box of chocolates.  The wooden block is your 'box'.

 Step-by-step

• Fold the poster in half.
• Insert cardboard strips along this fold.  This fold will become the top of the bag and the cardboard adds extra strength for carrying the bag.
• Glue these two halves of the poster together.
• Wrap the poster around the wooden block to create the bag (or box) shape, pinching the corners to make them sharp.
• Leaving the poster around the block, glue the poster's side edges together, taking care not to get the glue onto the wooden block.
• Place a sturdy cardboard strip, which has already been cut out, at the base of the block.  This strip has been measured to form the base.
• Glue the base generously, and fold the poster ends neatly over it.  This is exactly like completing the wrapping of a box of chocoates.
• Remove from block
• Fold the sides of the bag to shape it like a commercial gift bag
• Punch holes at the top of the bag

Insert your rope handles

Bags of Opportunity aims to give a helping hand rather than permanent employment.  The money earned is quite modest as the bags are very inexpensive. Also, as you'll see, they are so easy to make that it takes about 10-15 minutes to teach a new worker how to make it.

Contact details:

Website: bagsofopportunity.wordpress.com/