Try as I might, I have not been able to completely eliminate junk mail. Since I am unable to stop junk mail completely, I have decided to consider it a resource.
10 Ways to Repurpose Junk Mail:
1. Use the small pretty pictures from magazines and advertisements to create a gift tag. Cut the image and glue it to a sturdy piece of card stock. Use a hole punch to create a hole and then insert a string to tie the gift tag onto a package.
2. Use the large pretty pictures to create a bookmarks. Cut out an image and glue it to a sturdy piece of card stock. Use a hole punch to create a hole and then insert several strings and knot them. Cut the strings so that about 2 inches extend from the book mark. You can fray the strings if you wish.
3. Use the sealable envelopes to hold seeds collected from your garden.
4. I write grocery lists on the outside of otherwise unusable envelopes, and then put the coupons I am going to use inside.
5. Let children practice cutting skills. My son is learning to cut pictures from the catalogs and then he practices pasting the pictures he has cut onto a piece of paper.
6. Play the mail game with a child. As I thumb through the mail, I identify a piece I can give to Andrew. Of course I have to sing, “we just got a letter, we just got a letter, we just got a letter, I wonder who its from”. Andrew opens the letter and says, “oh, its from friends”. Which shows that he has a lot to learn about the mail!
7. I cut pictures from the catalogs and make a collage of the year’s fashions and trends. Each New Year’s Eve we make a mini family time capsule (it is more like our year in review rather than a real time capsule) and I include my collage.
8. Making paper from junk mail is a fun, if somewhat messy, activity. Click here for a tutorial.
9. If you are really feeling inspired, or are snowed in and have read every book in the house twice, you can make your own gift bags with junk mail.
10. Finally, here is a link showing you how to use your junk mail to create an art project.
Have you found a way to upcycle your junk mail? Or better yet, have you found a way to stop it all together?
This post has been linked to Works For Me Wednesday.
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Canada Guy says
Junk mail is an obvious target if we want to eliminate waste and reduce carbon emissions. This is a product most people throw out without even reading. It must be banned and leaders at Copenhagen should consider adding this to their international agreements.
Porch Days says
The man at the post office told me they just throw away the catalogs I refuse. Have tried to cut them off but the companies make it very difficult. Lately I am having fun making paper beads then sewing them onto brooches. Am also doing paper mache with newspaper.
Angela Barton says
Great ideas, Alea- thanks! I'm definitely going to try the bookmarks and gift tags. The gift bags might be a little beyond my skill level, or patience. We're on the same wavelength, because I wrote this post yesterday about making envelopes out of old calendars (or any junk mail). It was so easy and fun, and the envelopes are so cute!
http://myyearwithoutspending.blogspot.com/2009/09/make-your-own-envelopes.html
The Book Lady Online says
These are such great ideas! Now I almost wish we got more junkmail, lol. 🙂
eringoodman says
great ideas!
and now i'm off to sing the blue's clues song for the rest of the day!!! lol!
LadyMacbeth86 says
These are great ideas! Well, you have to do something with that junk mail… and what's sad is all of the unwanted waste it creates!
Your Frugal Friend, Niki says
Lovin the idea of makin bookmarks. I often feel bad throwing away junk with pretty photos on it.
Great tip…thanks for sharing!
🙂
Stop by and see me sometime over at Free 2 Be Frugal!
Catherine says
Any pages from junk mail that have a blank side go in a pile for printing off coupons, directions, and other one-use things.
Any glossy items get donated to the Ronald McDonald house for their recycling project.
Vickie's Michigan Garden (my backyard) says
Alea,
Thankyou
One more game to remember for my grandson–
Don't forget you could always compost your junk mail (of course only if it doesn't have plastic.
vickie
Mrs. (not) the Jet Set says
Thanks for sharing your idea! I'm always sad to see the huge piles of paper we end up recycling. This will help to make some of live on a little longer.
Struggler says
Fun! I clicked through to the gift bag instructions – that could work really well.
I'm glad Rew is enjoying his time with the mail, too.
The Thrifty Countrywoman says
What good ideas! I really liked that Rew enjoys your little game. The collage for the time capsule is a good idea too. You sound like a fun mother!
Jane
Lori says
Alea, you've got some great ideas here! I've always wanted to try making paper with the kids…I have just got to do this before they graduate homeschool! LOL!
I so enjoy your blog…you've always got good stuff here! 🙂
Have a good day!
mahmommy says
What great ideas- I love the seed packets one! I usually just use it as scrap paper or for my little one to draw on, but now I'll have to try some of these. Thanks!
Rae says
What a brilliant post – thank you for all the great suggestions. I have used junk mail as wrapping paper and made some of those bags too – the bags were really hard to make because the paper wouldn't behave itself!
I tend to return most junk mail to sender now, but sometimes I've opened it before I realise what it is, so like you, use the paper as scrap for shopping lists etc
Mrs G from myzerowaste.com
Meghan says
I love your ideas for using the junk mail for seeds envelopes and gift bags. I'm feeling very inspired!
Shana says
Awww man! I just got Blue's Clues out of my head! Oh well, it will be right back in there tomorrow…lol. Love the hangtag and gift tag idea. I never thought of that. I get a lot of Better Homes and Gardens magazines, which I never ordered, but they won't stop sending, so I can use a lot out of those. Thanks.