Let's Recycle: 6 Valentine Crafts Out of Supermarket Paper Bags

Animal Puppet
With this easy cut-and-paste project, you can make a variety of animals like owl, lion, pig or even a frog!

Materials:

Step 1:

Draw details of your favorite animal on pieces of colored paper.

Step 2:

Carefully cut the shapes using your outline as guide.

TIP:
Make a simple note to attach on your puppet so it doubles as a card!

Step 3:
Position the face details and the note on the paper bag and secure it in place with sticky tape or glue.

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Fluttering Hearts Luminaries
A simple fold on a heart cut-out can turn into little fluttering wings -- a delicate decoration for a simple paper bag luminary.

Materials:

Step 1:

Draw 2-3 heart shapes on the wider surface of the paper bag. However, make sure that you erase or just leave the pointed parts of the hearts undrawn.

TIP:
For starters, it's best to start with big heart drawings so you want have to cut through tiny curves in the next steps.

Step 2:
Fold the thinner sides of the paper bag outward to make sure that you will only cut the wider surface of the paper. Then place the folded bag on your cutting mat.

Step 3:

Carefully score your unfinished heart shape drawings with a cutter using your outline as guide. After cutting all of the shapes, fold the paper bag back to its normal shape.

Step 4:
Fold the little curves of the heart outward so that you have a fluttering luminary design. Do the same for the opposite side. You can now put your tealight candle inside the paper bag.

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Simple Woven Basket
A simple sprig of flowers will be made special with a woven basket handmade by you.

Materials:

Step 1:

Unravel the paper bag so you have one long sheet of brown paper. Cut it into around 1/2-inch strips. Cut half-inch strips of colored paper as well.

Step 2:

Secure the first strip of paper on your craft mat with sticky tape. After that, start alternately weaving the brown paper and colored paper together.

Step 3:

Once you have created a woven pattern around 10-inch long; cut off the excess strips, fold the strips inward and fix it in place with sticky tape. Make a small cylinder to create the main body of the basket and hold it inside with tape.

Step 4:

To make the bottom part of the basket, place the small cylinder that you have created on another piece of paper and draw a circle surrounding it. Snip the outline of the circle, fold the paper in, and tape the folded parts inside the cylinder.

Step 5:

Make a simple basket handle from another piece of paper. Glue or tape it near  the ream of the basket.

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Brown Paper Carnations
These paper flower creations are so easy to make, you can grow dozens of them just in time for Love Day!

Materials:

Step 1:

Unravel the paper bag so you have a whole sheet of brown paper. Cut it into 2.5-3inch strips. Fold the strips crosswise, around 3 times.

Step 2:

Draw the carnation petals shape following the picture above as guide. Cut the shape carefully and then unfold the paper to reveal a continuous strip of petals.

TIP:
Make little pleats on your strip of petals. This will make your handmade flower look more realistic.

Step 3:

Attach an end of the petal strip near the edge of the balloon stick with tape. Coil the rest of the petal strip around the balloon stick but make sure that the little folds you made are still intact.

TIP:
Electric tape is easier to find in malls than floral tape. It's available in different colors to match your project and can be stretched just like floral tapes!

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Paper Fruit Surprise
Sweet treats are cleverly hidden in these charming paper fruit containers that you can make in a jiffy!

Materials:

Step 1:
Unravel the paper bag so that you have one whole sheet of paper. Cut square shapes around 4-5inches wide.

Step 2:

Put candies on the square paper cutout. Cover the candies by scrunching the paper into a ball. You may need several square paper cutouts to achieve a nice ball shape.

Step 3:

Twist the corners of your last paper wrapper outward to make the stem. Retain the stem's shape by covering it with sticky tape

Step 4:

Create a leaf cutout the match your fruit candy container.

TIP: Add a gift tag to personalize your fruity candy bags. Tie it around the stem with a string.

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Handmade Lined Envelope
Tuck your love note in an envelope that you made yourself. This will totally send your message straight through your loved one's heart!

Materials:

Step 1:

Cut the paper bag so you are left only with the widest surface. Chop off the corners so that you form a cross shape. Score the horizontal part of the cross to make triangular flaps.

Step 2:

Place the brown paper cutout on a piece of patterned paper. Draw an outline using the brown paper as guide. Then cut the patterned paper to form the shape, but cut it a half-inch smaller than the original.

Step 3:

Glue the patterned paper cutout onto the brown paper. Fold the flaps inward to create the envelope.

TIP:
After you've written your letter and inserted it in your envelope, seal it with a cute sticker or tie it with ribbon or twine.

Photos by Mark Jesalva