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Did you know that 5.6 million tons of junk mail ends up in US landfills each year? 44% is thrown away unopened, and only 22% is recycled. The average American household gets 848 pieces of junk mail every year. That is equal to 1.5 trees every year. Now multiply that by the millions of people who live in America and we are talking about entire forests of trees disappearing. I’m not going to go into scientific detail or get all political about climate change
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s make art.
5 Creative Ways to Recycle Junk Mail
Papier-Mache
Did you know that you can use your junk mail to make all kinds of stuff by turning it into paper mache?
Beautiful Handmade Paper
Handmade paper always makes a wonderful gift. You can add dried flowers, herbs, and essential oils to scent the paper and make it even prettier.
Paper Beads for Necklaces
This is a great craft you can do with the kids. Wouldn’t grandma love a handmade necklace as a gift?
Magazine Construction Tubes
Once you learn how to make these tubes you can make anything out of them. You can even weave them into baskets or thread them together to make window blinds.
Woven Baskets
You can use any kind of paper to make baskets. Add paint or shellac to make it sturdier and last longer.
Check out my Pinterest board for more ways to
Recycle, Reuse, and Repurpose
If you want to try to cut down on your junk mail
visit National Do Not Mail List for resources.
My favorite ways to recycle junk mail and magazines is by making mixed media art projects such as junk journals, altered books, and collages. Here is a flip through of a nice junk journal if you’re looking for some ideas.
What are some ways you recycle junk mail?
We used to do the woven baskets when I was a kid. Love the bead idea! Thanks for sharing.
Lots of fun and creative ideas! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Love how you showed us ways to reuse junk. Found you on Bloggers Pit Stop.
What fun ideas. I think I will try the paper and bead ideas.
Fun ideas – and it’s always good to reduce waste.
Those were some excellent ideas!
This was pin worthy for sure! I was taught how to make paper Mache and paper beads. One time for school we made a globe of the earth. And we made paper bracelets and rings.
These are fun ideas!! Thank you for sharing!
I would have never thought of any of this on my own. Thank you !
Good to know. My dad is on everybody’s junk mail list.