I buy bed linen from Walmart for my garndchildren's bed and as fabirc for quilts. Recently end of last year the store changed the packaging to material bags. They are very small, and no way will even the pillowcases fit back in to them.
I'm a collector so no way am I throwing the bags away. They have been sitting in a drawer. I have a collection of six. Saturday, putting off sewing the designs on my mother's recliner throw I looat my cup sweating on the dish cloth I use as a coaster, and bemoaned the moisture seeping through to my wooden table. Am on a very limited budget, and after paying bills have five dollars for the rest of the month, so can't buy proper coasters.
Thought about the board and the term mug rug, and thought is that what they are? I took the bags apart, dug out the pieces of batting I have left over, and thought how I could use them.
Used the scrape pattern for utility bags, with one as the front and one as the top, I quilted them and even used some as the binding. They are the perfect size. I now have three quilted coasters, but it took over nine months to consider the bags as material I could use. I'm not the swiftest mind in my family. Another way this site has enriched my life. Thanks.

hello, that is a great idea!

Very crafty and you recycled something you considered useless. Way to go!

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Marvelously clever. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Smart woman.

Who says ur not smart?!! I think that was great u did that! Doesn't matter how long it took u to decide to do it!! Good for you!!!

Clever you! Some people wouldn't have even thought of it, so don't ever think you aren't smart. Very resourceful, I would say.

That was a terrific idea! I love to hear about new ways to reuse!

Everything has another use. Good for you

Hey,thats a great idea,I have a couple of those so guess what I ;ll do.Thanks

that's a thrifty idea, thanks for sharing. what a great use for those 'little' bags.

Thanks

Very nifty and a reminder to you of your family too. Good idea.

We just bought one of those sets last night for my son for college...he probably won't want the bag....will have to see if he will let me have it to do something with!

I love your screen name. You're a wise woman.

I bought a bag of pillow cases recently and kept the bag. Not sure what I'll use it for.

Great idea!

What a great and creative idea! :thumbup:

that is good use of material... I remember seeing somewhere a quilt made from little tiny cloth bags used to hold tobacco... a woman collected them when her husband was through with the tobacco... one day she washed, bleached and dyed them and made them into a quilt... it was really very pretty...

I think I have one of those bags...I don't discard anything fabric...wondered what I'd do with it. Since I applique...I might could use it. Though a mug rug sounds good to. Thanks for the super ideas!!

what a wonderful way of recycling things. Gold star!!

That is a fabulous idea! Thank you for sharing.

Very clever! Love to hear recycling tips :D:D:D

Great idea

We use one of those flat glass candle holders with the outer rim on them. Add four of those slideproof stick on feet. I fold a paper towel in quarters to set my drink on. Change the paper towel once a week. I use lots of ice in my drinks so the glass and the holder sweat alot. The feet keep the moisture off the wooden table as well as keep it stable. I picked up the glass holders at Goodwill. These are the best coasters I have found and the only throwaway is one paper towel a week.

Me too! I saved mine also. Now I know what to do with them. Thank you for a great idea :-D

Great idea!

Glad you found a use for the bags. Now, if the moisture left a white spot on your table, try rubbing the stain with mayonnaise. Let it stand a few minutes and then polish following the grain, changing to a clean section of your polishing cloth as you move over the stain.

Just love those moments when the light bulb goes on! Am so thrilled when this happens to me. Your mug rugs fits your need perfectly!

that's a super idea!

Great idea, good for you. :thumbup:

Very Clever!

I think your mind was very swift. When a need came up, you knew just what to do for the solution. Aren't you glad you saved those little bags? I have a few of them, too. :) :) :)

Great idea. Sometimes ideas come when we least expect them.

Thanks. Now I know what I can do with mine. Marge L.

First, I am a fellow traveler, i am elderly, live on Social Security and barely have enough to eat after paying my bills every month, just like you and many many others!
I saw those colorful little bags around the pillowcases and sheets at Wallmart too.
I think you are very creative making them into coasters or "Mug Rugs"! I think mug rugs are supposed to be large enough to hold several mugs or a small plate of something hot , or a a serving bowl of hot food.
My question is, did you put a waterproof layer of "something" like a sheet of plastic cut from a "boiling baggie" inside them to keep the condensing water from leaking through? Did you use any other batting?
Thank you! I appreciate any ideas! Jeannie

Good job.

I didn't for the first one, but after the moisture soaked through I found about a half yard of vinal [can't spell] left ver form covering kitchen chairs, and used that in the last two. So far it's working.

Thanks for sharing!

Necessity is the mother of invention.