How to Make Stuff Out of Capri Sun Pouches

Don't throw out those juice box pouches! Recycle them into an eco-friendly purse.

As interest is growing in reducing, recycling and reusing, a hand bag made from used Capri Sun pouches that would otherwise end up in a landfill, is a great way to be earth-friendly. Recycling is not a new concept, but remaking used objects into fashion items is a concept that has graced some of the most well known runways including shows by designers Gary Harvey, Chia Guillory and Rene Geneva. By making your very own recycled fashion accessory, you can have your own green handbag.

Things You'll Need

• Capri Sun juice pouches
• Scissors
• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Towel
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Cut a slit in the bottom section of the empty Capri Sun juice pouch. Wash out the pouch with dish soap and warm water to remove any sticky drops. Set them with the open side down on a towel or dish rack to completely dry overnight. When dry, flatten and smooth out the juice pouches to ensure there are no wrinkles or bubbles in them.

2. 

   You need to use a zigzag stitch for these to ensure a strong seam that will last.

   Lay two pouches side by side, the top of the juice pouch at the top, front (colorful) side up, in front of you on a flat surface. Overlap just the side, silver outer edge of the pouches. They will overlap about 1/4 inch. Sew a zigzag stitch down the overlapped edges of the two pouches, keeping the front side up. Repeat this step with two more juice pouches. You will end up with two sets of two pouches sewn together along their side edge for the front and back of the purse.

3. Lay two pouches top sides together, front side up, with the top edges overlapping 1/4 inch. Sew a zig zag stitch down the overlapped edge. When finished, you will have two pouches sewn together at the top edge of both pouches, the bottom edges of both pouches will be on the ends for the purse handles.

4. Cut the joined pouches from step 3 in half lengthwise. These are going to be the handles of your purse. Take one half and fold it into thirds lengthwise with the front of the pouches showing. Sew a zigzag stitch down the center, lengthwise, of the folded pouches. Repeat with the other half you cut at the beginning of this step.

5. Lay the purse front down with the front facing up on a flat surface. Tuck 1 inch of the end of one of the purse handles under the purse front. Place the handle so it is centered in the middle of one of the pouches of the purse front. Sew a zigzag stitch to attach the purse handle to the purse 1/2 inch down from the top of the purse. Bend the purse handle so it curves over and tuck the other end of the handle 1 inch under the middle of the other pouch on the purse front. You will now have a handle attached to the purse front. Repeat this step with the other sections from steps 3 and 4 to make the front and back of the purse.

6. Measure the width of the purse front. Overlap two juice pouches, the top of one juice pouch to the bottom of the other juice pouch, with the front sides up, so the length measures the same as the width of the purse front. Sew a zigzag stitch where the juice pouches overlap to join them together. When finished, you will have a long narrow strip that is as long as the purse front is wide for the bottom of the purse.

7. Turn the purse bottom so the silver side is up. Take a single juice pouch and match up the bottom edge with a short edge of the purse bottom. Sew a zigzag stitch 1/4 inch up from the bottom edge to join a purse side to the purse bottom.

8. Take a single juice pouch and match up the bottom edge with the other short edge of the purse bottom. Sew a zigzag stitch 1/4 inch up from the bottom edge to join the other purse side to the purse bottom. From steps 7 and 8, you should now have both purse sides attached to the purse bottom.

9. Holding the purse bottom and sides open in a U shape, match up the edges with the purse front with the purse handle at the top. Sew a zigzag stitch 1/4 inch from the edge around the three sides that match up. Turn the purse around and repeat by matching up the purse back with the corresponding edges of the purse bottom and sides and sew a zigzag stitch 1/4 inch from the edge of the three sides with the purse handle up.

Tips & Warnings

• If desired, you can make a cloth liner for your Capri Sun juice pouch purse.

• Now that you know how to join the juice pouches together, you can attach them in a large sheet and using a regular clothes pattern, cut the pattern pieces from sheets of juice pouches to make clothing.

• Always use the proper precautions when working with scissors and sewing machines to avoid injury.

References

• Mormon Chic
• Craft Bits
• Thrifty Fun

Resources

• Craftzine