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3 Things You Can Do Today For Greener Scrapbooking
I am always looking for adjustments I can make so my habits are less wasteful. It’s about making small changes, a little bit at a time. Here are a few easy things you can do right now if you’re not already doing them.
1. Put a bag, bin, or can under your scrap area for recycling.
This one seems so obvious and I’m sure a lot of you do it already, but I scrapbooked almost an entire decade before it occurred to me to do this. I had a recycling bin in my pantry. Why not in my scrap area?
Most of our scraps can be recycled. Plus, because only clean things go in the recycling bag, I can reach down into it anytime I need a scrap to scribble or practice on, rather than use a new piece of notebook paper.
2. Use paint brushes instead of sponge brushes.
I have been gradually eliminating almost everything in my life that is disposable and investing in long-lasting reusable items instead.
3. Save the bags from your scrapbook store and take them with you when on your next scrapbook shopping trip. You see my cloth grocery bags above? They would hardly work for 12×12 papers, so I accept the bags the store uses. But there’s nothing that says I can’t reuse those bags over and over again.
What have you been doing to make your scrapbooking or other arts and crafts more eco-friendly? Please share your own tips by leaving a comment.
Hi Noell!
I try to take a paper holder with me when I go to my LSS. You know, one of the ones that’s about 1/2″ thick and holds 12×12 paper. I can fit it in my reusable shopping bags (like your green ones above) and still have room for the non-paper goodies I get.
Oh, and check it out!! I used leftover packaging on this layout! http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/gallery/details.ihtml?idx=89993
Reduce, REUSE, recycle, baby!
Comment by Erica Hettwer — January 17, 2008 @ 11:52 am
I’ve been using mail like Christmas cards, and junk mail on my pages. Ali Edwards (ok—I keep referencing her—guess I am a bigger fan than I realized!) does this in Life Artist. I also use tags from clothing (both fabric and paper) on layouts too, much like you did, Noell, on one of the layouts of Trinity on this blog. I am an ardent user of scraps! I love using them to make cards, punch small pieces, etc. I also love using found objects like twill from a Pampered Chef gift bag, or buttons from an old piece of clothing, and repurposing them. And I admit to taking old food containers and altering them. Lastly, I try to think of combining things in my scrapping stash that I already have so I don’t buy for the saking of buying (well…I love shopping, but it feels good to reduce my consumption, and it’s good on the budget, too). I also give my 5 year daughter my older supplies, and her creativity in how she uses them often spurs me on to rethink what is old and how I can think outside the box and try something new, with something old.
Karen
Comment by Karen — January 17, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
Hi Noell.. I just recently came across this site and I’m so glad I did. Your work and podcasts are such an inspiration. People who take the time and do these things are so motivating and encouraging. I’ve been into scrapping for a couple years, more-so in the last few months and i enjoy it immensely. Every so often we need ideas like yours (which are sensational) to help us kick off with new ideas for our pages and layouts. I just wanted you to know how grateful i am that i came across this site and you… u are an inspiration… i got my paint out today-all because of you. Thanks again. I also use some of your tips so that i have less waste. I have a scrap bin for paper i use to glue on and of course a bin for left over scraps fancy paper…
Many blessings
Comment by melissa — January 17, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
I just realized the recycle your scrap trash too! For about one month now, I have two containers next to my scrap area - trash & recycle.
My only other thought is to give away your purged items - to other scrappers, to a church, to a school, to a daycare, to some medicial facilities. One person’s trash really is a treasure!
Comment by Lauren — January 17, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
I’m so glad you made this post…I do not have have a recycling can in my craft room! I’m going to put one in there pronto and in my husband’s office too. We’ve always had one in the kitchen but not anywhere else.
Thanks Noell
Comment by MamaSheg — January 17, 2008 @ 5:12 pm