A Trash Can Made From Trash

A few weeks ago I made a little woven basket for a desk organizer from some old magazine pages and I kind of got hooked on the process. So I decided to try and make some bigger baskets to organize other craft supplies and projects but the thing I really needed was a small trash can.
It takes a lot of rolled tubes. If I remember correctly there are at least two magazines in each of these projects. For the rectangular shapes I wove the sides and the bottoms of the baskets but I wanted an oval shape for the trash can so I started with a piece of cardboard and glued the paper tubes around the bottom.
Then I just started weaving in a 1 X 1 pattern around and around until it was the height that I wanted. Because the paper tubes are a little stiff and want to push apart I used a lot of hot glue to secure the weave in place as I was working.
I wasn't sure how the finish the top but then I decided just to roll the excess paper down to the top rim and secure it in place with more hot glue.
It worked really well and a plastic grocery bag fits over the lip of my new trashsy trash can.
Like I said before I am kind of addicted so I made this rectangular basket in a 1 X 2 weave and then added a liner made from an empty grain bag.
For this basket I experimented with adding some handles..
I still have a lot of magazines left and I am wondering what else I can make from them.
Cindy @ Upcycle Design Lab
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 12 questions
  • Barb Barb on Jul 14, 2018

    When rolling the pages do you start at a corner? Also, is each page roll torn from the magazine or is each page the result of removing all the staples first?

  • Frances Woodhamwallace Frances Woodhamwallace on Jan 28, 2019

    How do you roll the paper into a tube?

  • Debbie Rose Debbie Rose on Mar 28, 2020

    How sturdy was the piece of cardboard you used for the bottom? Was it very thick?Could you post a video of this, please?


Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 61 comments
  • Pat Pat on Jan 13, 2020

    I made a necklace from rolled up magazine paper. Small strips were cut into a long triangle and rolled onto a small piece of dowel rod so the string could be inserted down through the middle, roll wide end to the pointy end which gave it a bead look. Don’t remember how I fastened it but with glue I am sure. String with a chain or yarn , thread add clasp and wear. I guess we used mod podge to stiffen the paper and hive it shine don’t remember. Bet there is a “YouTube “ video out there. They are cute.

  • Cat58162251 Cat58162251 on Feb 04, 2022

    Light on direction, for instance, how big around should the tubes be.

Next