Knowing how to make these reusable cling wraps is a must in every household. We are always surprised when someone hasn’t made this DIY craft yet. So we wanted to spread the word and get you making them! They can be used for multiple purposes and will save you money from buying disposable cling wrap and zip-lock and plastic sandwich bags. You can also feel good about your eco-footprint since these are a great way that you can contribute to a zero waste lifestyle.

This is a great project to create on Earth Day with children and talk about zero waste initiatives. Zero waste is a trending environmental lifestyle that uses reusable and recycled (no waste) products instead of disposable items.

These wraps will make packing lunches or storing food fun and easy for children, while looking rad too! It can also be a beautiful way of creating functional Art. The biggest thing that we love about them is that each one is unique.

We’ve added our Acorns and Aprons twist to this diy beeswax wraps craft by encouraging you to make it your own. Choosing colours and patterns that suit you is one way to achieve that, but let’s go a bit beyond that and add your own artwork to it as well. You can draw or write things onto the fabric and really personalize it. Write your name, a special message, we challenge you to be as creative as you’d like!

Scroll down to see some of the different creative ways to make wrapping up food look pretty and fun!

Materials:

1. Beeswax - you can reuse old candles for this project. 2. 100% Cotton fabric - any colour or size.

3. Wax paper

4. Baking sheet

5. Fabric shears or scissors

6. Knife or grater

7. Paint Brush or cooking brush

Hang to cool option:

1. Clothes pin or metal clips

2. Clothing hanger

Oven Temperature at lowest setting - we used 200 F (but 150 - 220 F is good)

Bake time - 4-8 mins

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200F

2. Cut the fabric the size that you’d like, making sure that it fits inside your baking sheet.

3. Line the baking sheet with wax paper.

4. Lay the cotton fabric flat on the cooking sheet.

5. Sprinkle some small pieces of beeswax all over the fabric in a light coat. You can do this by grating or shaving the beeswax over one side of the fabric. You only need to sprinkle it onto one side only. The beeswax will melt and spread out and through to the other side.

6. Place in the oven for 4-8 mins until it is melted.

7. Take it out of the oven and brush it with a brush to evenly coat the fabric.

8. Be careful not to burn yourself, transfer the fabric to a clothes line, or pin it onto a clothes hanger to cool and set. This takes only 5 mins. Place a pan under it to catch any drips.

9. Take it off the hanger.

10. It is ready to use!
    

Add your own creative design to a piece of white cotton fabric by drawing on it with crayons prior to baking it with the beeswax. This rainbow and unicorn drawing was made by Charlotte age 6.

Sew a little pouch prior to baking!

For a simple three sided sewn bag:

1. Place two pieces of cut fabric on-top of each other with the design facing inward.

2. Then, simply sew the edges together on three sides of your square or rectangle and leave one of the edges open.

3. Sew and turn it inside out.

4. Cut the raw edge with shearing Scissors for a nice edge, if desired.

5. Now add your beeswax. Spread the beeswax over one of the sides and bake.
   

6. If needed, turn the bag over once and spread one more layer of beeswax over the other side, bake for 4 -8 mins and hang to cool.

If you an regular sewer, you can create your pouch with no raw edges showing by sewing them inwards prior to sewing the two pieces together.

The beeswax allows you to fold the bag over at the top, closing it securely, without the need for any buttons or zippers. You can fold it once or a few times and just simply unfold it when you want to open it. It will not spill out, and will have an air tight seal.

These diy bags are a great alternative to plastic sandwich bags! Use as a sandwich bag, or as a fruit and veggie bag for picnics and school lunches.

Another creative idea to add to your wraps is to write messages on the fabric with permanent marker or acrylic paint, prior to putting the beeswax on the fabric!

These are so easy to make you will kick yourself for not doing it sooner! You’ll probably need to make new ones every six months or so because I find they wear out a bit and stop being as pliable, and you can re-invigorate them using the same methods set out above.

Create multiple sizes and colours of fabric. Use small pieces for mason jars and larger ones for bowls and plates!

We hope you have fun creating this Earth Friendly Craft idea. We know that Mother Earth will thank you for choosing an alternative to plastic and other disposable options.

If this blog inspired you to create these reusable wraps and you’d like to share your creative craft project with us, please tag us on Instagram @acorns.and.aprons. We will gladly feature your creation!