Reuse Those Plastic Newspaper Bags

I recently started getting the newspaper delivered on the weekends, and it often comes in one of these plastic bags.  I've also been able to snag some bags from the newspapers that get delivered to the building I work in.  I figure if no one else is going to take them, then they're fair game!  There are a lot of ways to reuse these bags, so give one of these ideas a try and recycle, don't toss!

Doggie Doody Duty - yes, I have a pup, so this is one of the most logical solutions I personally had for these bags! 

Car Trash - use a bag to hold trash in your car.  As long as the bag doesn't rip, you could just keep filling it up with trash and dumping it when it's full.

Wet Umbrella Holder - this one is pretty self explanatory...

Crochet a Bag - Cindy at MyRecycledBags.com has a nice tutorial here.  You could make variegated "plarn" with white grocery bags and blue newspaper bags.

Travel - pack shoes in a bag before putting them in your suitcase, or use a bag to store liquid toiletries like shampoo and body wash while you're traveling.

Packaging - use bags to pad and protect items you are shipping.  Wrap fragile items up or just use the bags as extra cushioning.

Door Draft Stopper - there are a couple options for this recycle: either take some long newspaper bags and stuff them with other plastic grocery bags (don't overstuff, the long bags should have some flexibility to them) or try this idea: take a pair of old jeans and cut the legs off.  Stuff the legs with plastic bags and sew up the ends to make a totally DIY-ed draft stopper!

"Twist-Ties" - cut a bag into strips to use in place of twist ties.  The strips of plastic also work great to tie a houseplant to stakes or dowels as it gets taller.

Napkin Rings - go here to see how Secret Agent Josephine made napkin rings...

And if you really have no need to reuse your newspaper bags, then please remember to RECYCLE them!  Most grocery stores have a receptacle for clean plastic bags and it's much better to recycle than to toss in the trash!