Mini Trash Can From an Envelope for Workbench/Desktop (Disposable)

I make small things. There are often little bits of this and that. Sometimes there are many, many teeny tiny bits. Most are too light and small to transfer to the floor trash can effectively. They blow off or fall diagonally; they end up outside the trash can, on the floor, or stuck on nearby objects. Some are sticky or have static cling, so they can be difficult to get off my fingers or tools. It helps to have a tiny containment-and-disposal unit right on the benchtop or table with me. 

My mini trash cans are made of used envelopes, so I don't feel bad about rolling the top (for containment) and disposing of the whole thing when I'm done. Especially if the local winds are due to pick up.

This method (folding and possibly taping) can also be used on flat paper bags (mini—such as a prescription bag—or larger) and on flat cloth bags (canvas or that nonwoven cloth) to make them stand up or become more boxy in shape.

For cloth bags, maybe tuck the corners to the inside, then sew or tape in place. Or just tuck the corners in—for temporary (reversible) shaping—before trying to pack the bag.

The video is here (in case the embedding fails).

• Envelope, such as from a bill or junk mail, opened at one end only (see Step 1)
• Tape (optional)
• Scissors or other cutting system
• Optional: my YouTube video, for clarity

When opening bills or dealing with junk mail, choose a good envelope:

• Reasonably sturdy (not especially flimsy)
• Solid (no windows) OR with all of the windows at one end, such that half or more of the envelope is solid (see image)

To open the envelope, resist the urge to tear or slit the top. Instead, slit or tear one end (see 2nd image). It's okay if a bit of the top gets torn, just try to keep about half of the envelope intact.

See the last image for a preview of how to fold the intact end. The center rectangle will be the front. The sides will be twice the width of the visible side rectangles (final width 2X), and the bottom will be twice the width of the visible bottom rectangle. (The widths all have to match at the bottom, or the bag won't work right.) The opened end of the envelope can be cut up and put inside as ballast.

Other options:

• If your envelope is junk mail and solid (no windows), you might just cut it across right from the start (see Step 5). Then you could make two cans from it.
• If you want a bigger trash can than the example shown here, choose a large solid envelope and plan to use more than half of it. A clasp envelope can work well; no need to slit or seal.
• You might use more than half. If the extra part is slit neatly, sometimes it's possible to turn down a split cuff and make the sides sturdier. I didn't do this, but you might have fun redesigning the trash can.
• I've also used this method to turn a flat bag (such as a prescription bag or an inexpensive nonwoven grocery bag) into a boxy bag.

Optional: You could cut the envelope (Step 5) now instead of later. In my example, I wasn't sure how high I wanted it or whether I would want to turn down or roll a cuff (nope). I ended up using about half of a standard business envelope.

Look at the intact end of the envelope. Estimate about 1/4 of the way from one long edge (see photo). Make a fold, parallel to the edge, a little LESS than 1/4 of the way from the edge. Then open it back up.

If you make it exactly 1/4, you should get a square result, but the corners are a bit harder to fold neatly. (See the last photo in Step 6; indulge your preferences.)

If the fold is slanted, the bag might flare or slope. Don't do that the first time, but maybe have fun with the design later.

Make a short, diagonal fold from the corner near where you just folded; open. This fold helps to mark the position of the next fold. This fold just needs to reach the first fold line; I don't fold it all the way across the envelope.

Fold the bottom up so that this new fold crosses at the same point the first two folds cross; open.  This fold defines the bottom of the bag and makes it match the width of the first side.

Make a short, diagonal fold from the other bottom corner; open. Again, it just needs to reach the previous fold.

Fold the second long edge inward so that this new fold crosses at the same point the previous two folds (bottom and second corner) cross; open. This fold makes the second side match the bottom and first side.

Refold each of the three long folds, backwards; open. When the trash can is open, one of the layers will fold one way, and the other layer will fold the other way. If your envelope feels crunchy (in danger of tearing), maybe do this refolding later, more carefully...or start over with a better envelope.

Fold each bottom corner to meet the point where the nearby folds cross (see photo and maybe Step 6 photos); open.

Cut off the waste end of the envelope.

You might have done this earlier. If you wait until this step, you can see how high the bag will be; you can choose to make yours extra tall—possibly with windows—or fashionably short.

You might also wish to cut the waste part into rectangles and use it to weigh down the trash bag (not shown); the cans do tend to tip over without weight or tape.

Open up the envelope so that the three original edges flatten out and become the centerlines of the can's sides and bottom. (If that's confusing, just try it. The geometry will assert itself.)

Pinch the corners flat, so that they bend at the most recent fold lines. They should stick out to each side. 

Sharpen the side and bottom folds, as needed, to get everything to stay square.

The amount of the corner fold is what defines the width and thickness of the result (see last photo). If you don't like the shape, re-crease the corners (and then the sides and bottom) to adjust.

Try standing the trash can upright. (Leave the corners out to help with balance, for now.)

If it doesn't stand on its own:

• You can tape the corners to your work surface (see photo) or to a plate, book, or heavy coaster.
• You can tuck one corner under something.
• You can try firming up the bottom folds, or even try making the sides bend slightly inward. (Sometimes that works.)
• You can fold or cut up some of the waste portion of the envelope and use it as weight in the bottom of the bag (flat and slightly small pieces work best).

Optional: If the corners are in your way (or if you're using this technique on a shopping bag), you can fold each up to the side and tape it in place (see photo). If you're really ambitious, you can tuck the corners to the inside, and maybe secure them to the bottom inside; tucked-in corners make cloth bags look more finished.

Use the trash bag for a session of crafting or other tabletop work.

I recommend folding or rolling the top before leaving the area to contain tiny or static-y bits.