Since childhood, I’ve been lucky to play sports with my dad.  Everything from baseball and volleyball to horseshoes and Frisbee golf, but I’ve always liked to play with, and cut up the old sports equipment, too.  Goodwill is great because I don’t always want to cut up my own sports balls and bats, but for a dollar or less Goodwill balls can turn into great projects.  I found a rubber kickball last week that I’ll show you how to turn into a bag that’s great by the pool or anywhere you go this summer.  It’s surprising what happens when you look at common items from a different angle. 

For this project you’ll need:

-A rubber ball from Goodwill

-Pull chain (from fans) or another kind of cording

-A magnetic clasp (find a bag at Goodwill with one and use that! Or, if you can’t find one, sewing stores carry them)

-An Awl

- Scissors

1. Cut the ball in half with scissors or an X-Acto knife so that one side has the valve and the other does not (be careful not to cut yourself, knives and scissors can slip with rubber).

2. Flip the side with the valve inside out, so that the valve is protruding and the black rubber is on the outside. Roll the opposite side over the valve and mark a hole with marker that will just fit over the valve.

3. Cut out hole and insert valve.

4. Next cut four small holes on each side for your chain to run through. I like to fold the bag in half, with one side ½-to-¾ in. shorter than the other side (so that the larger side can fold over the smaller side to close).  Mark where the holes should go, before cutting them, to make sure the bag will line up properly.  I used a grommet tool to make holes (without the grommets, because I couldn’t get them to stay in the rubber, they kept popping out) but you could use an awl or a large sewing needle.



5. Trim any uneven edges to clean up the look of the bag.

6. Thread the pull chain through the holes and tighten. A clasp on each end will keep the chain from pulling through the holes.

7. Next press the prongs of the male side of magnetic clasp through the top edge of the rubber (the larger side of the bag) add the secure plate and clamp down on the prongs with pliers to flatten them.

8. Fold over the top flap and mark where the female side should go.  Install this side on the shorter side of the bag.

9. Done! If you don’t like the look of the back of the clasp you can cover it with black duct tape or use a tire patch kit (I haven’t tired this, but I bet it would work!) to cover it with rubber.

If you don’t want to make a bag your Goodwill kickball might also turn into a hat, a bowl, a holder for picnic silverware? Limitless possibilities.  The great thing about rubber is that its easy to wash and very waterproof.