It seems that no matter how hard we try, junk always finds a way into our mailboxes. Even if you’ve had success stopping the junk mail, we still have bills that come in security envelopes and sometimes one inside another.
Crafting a Green World editor Becky Striepe, whose mission is to make eco-friendly crafts accessible, has the perfect solution. Instead of throwing it out, try her recycled junk mail notebook project. Turn those piles of junk mail into fun, kid-sized notebooks or a scratch pad for your purse.
Supplies:
- About 7 security envelopes
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Stapler
Degree of Difficulty: Intermediate
Ages: 6 and up
Inside most of those envelopes are printed patterns. Isn’t it awesome that your mailman is basically delivering free, decorative paper to your house every day?
Instructions: Measure, mark with pencil and cut your security envelopes into seven pieces that are 2.5″ X 5″ apiece. Fold your pieces of paper in half, so each one is 2.5″ X 2.5″, then nestle them together so that they’re all book-like.
To make your cover a little bit stronger than the other pages, glue two pieces of security envelope together. Cut out your two pieces, and use your glue stick to glue them together right sides out. Fold this in half and nestle it over your interior pages. Use a clothespin or binder clip to hold your pages and cover in place on one side, then open up your notepad and staple the spine near the top and bottom along the crease.
To cover unsightly staples, grab a scrap piece of security envelope and cut it to 3/4″ by slightly shorter than 2.5″. Fold it in half, so that it’s 3/8″ X 2.5″, apply your glue stick over the wrong side of the paper, then nestle it over the spine, pressing down well to get out any air bubbles.
And… ta da! You’ve got a great little kid-size notebook at your fingertips.
From sustainable fabrics and ideas for creative reuse to eco-friendly art supplies and tutorials, Crafting a Green World wants to help make your crafty life greener. They feature everything from tutorials and supplies to green crafters and book reviews. Crafting a Green World (CAGW) is a fantastic resource for organic, natural, and recycled crafty projects, products, media, and businesses. For the full tutorial and other earth-friendly craft ideas, visit www.craftingagreenworld.com.
Photos used with permission from Becky Striepe.
