Eco-spark: Re-using and Recycling Paper

Posted by Pepe Newton on 8/23/10   |   Categorized as Blog Feature,Eco-Spark

Share |

bob the paper bird, recycled paper sculpture
 Bob the Paper Bird | $65 | PolkaDotSunday

As any mother will tell you, you can make just about anything with a bunch of old newspapers and tape.  And paper is the theme of today’s article, another in my eco-spark series on recycling and reusing. Papier mâché is the first thing that springs to my mind when I think of a crafty way to recycle old newspapers.  Papier-mâché is the French for ‘chewed-up paper’ (due to its appearance).  It’s a construction material that consists of pieces of newspaper stuck together using a wet paste. The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries.  Much messy fun is to be had with children and papier mâché believe me! But searching on etsy I found a number of different methods for re-using colored paper too (think junk mail, old magazines, cereal boxes…)

First, the obvious – you can make new paper from old:

recycled sheets of paper chipboard

Set of 40 Papers | $33 | White DragonPaper

Less obvious is to roll up the paper and seal it with glue. Check out these ‘tortoiseshell’ beads

Tortoise shell hand rolled paper beads

Tortoiseshell Hand Rolled Paper Beads | $5 | LandL

Or coil it for a great effect.  Did you know coiled paper can also be made into decorative pots just like coils of clay?

Abstract canvas painted with paper rolls recycled

Happy Amoeba | $210 | Artesa

Cutting up and refashioning cards, maps, books and such things can make fab earrings like these…

Custom Paper Earrings | $15 | HomeECOnomics

…or pretty decorations like this garland

Recycled 1930′s Childrens Book Garland | $22 | KristinaMarie

…and even gorgeous art works

Going East Abstract Recycled Fine Art

Going East | $335 | Clairemb

Waste paper is everywhere around us and its inspiring to see what people are doing to re-use this seemingly never ending supply.  We’d love to hear about how you use paper.  Or if you have a suggestion about other uses of recycled materials I’d love to feature it in my next eco-spark article.  Comment below!

~ Pepe Newton

Tagged as: , , , , ,
  • http://dspdavey.etsy.com Deb D

    Great eco-paper finds Pepe! I really like Bob and the paper earrings!

  • paperdemon

    Thank you for posting this! I am on a mission to get paper recognized as one of the best art and jewelry mediums around, especially in its recycled forms! Treated right, it is as durable as anything out there.

    Please forgive a blatant plug, but I would love for folks reading this to see the recycled paper jewelry I've been creating in Eugene, Oregon, inspired by our very large and active re-use movement: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50467163/sweetlife-re… http://www.etsy.com/listing/53857485/blueearth-pe… http://www.etsy.com/listing/51012647/redcosmos-sp…

    Thank you! Karen of Paper Demon Jewelry (on Handmade Spark and Etsy)

  • http://www.whitedragonpaper.etsy.com White Dragon Paper

    I love articles that show the versatility of paper as a medium for art beyond writing and drawing. It's such a great base for so many different forms of art.

  • http://www.artesaonline.com flavia

    THANK YOU PEPE! Really nice, simply adore all your choices, you did good and i am honored to have been chosen to sit amongst such creative genius. Likewise, paper fascinates me, always has, I have been hording paper since I was a young kid, everytime someone throws good paper away I am there, gathering it until I get inspired to make something. Ciao, flavia

  • http://twitter.com/samsstuff @samsstuff

    Love all these great examples of recycling!

  • eccentricity1

    Great article on recycling paper and hope we see more and more artists using recycled items in their work. Thanks for sharing these resources for wonderful art pieces using recycled paper products.

  • http://fcfcreations.com Frances Fawcett

    Thanks Pepe – I'm new to Handmade Spark and I'm really enjoying the daily posts.

    The paper mache bird is really fun (love the wire feet!) – and the "map bird "with its shadow is striking.

    I haven't yet looked through all of your posts to see if you've written about recycled fiber: I love creating one of a kind felted "critter" sculptures out of recycled wool sweaters, adding recycled phone wire and fashioning embellishments from other quirky cast offs.
    Take care – I'm excited to be a member of this community!
    xo Frances

  • Anonymous

    Papers can be reused or shredded for other purposes while plastic products can be recycled. It would be good to teach our kids these things as young as they are. The things we can do with are endless because they depend on our imagination and creativity – like the one shown above.

    http://www.shreddingdallas.com

    Being creative does not have to cost a lot, especially if we have the materials so that they not go to waste. We can reuse or recycle almost anything these days. With the help of technology, we can minimize the amount of waste being accumulated in land fills and we do not act on this problem now, we may face more serious problems in the future.

  • Anonymous

    With the widespread awareness of recycling, more people will come to understand that in our own little ways we can still show our efforts of conserving our resources.
    Recycling is really rewarding. You can use your creativity and practicality. I read another piece on recycling that might inspire others at:
    http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/02/uberstix-you-need-to-recycle-to-use.html
    It seems that recycling is now being done to almost anything that we can think of – to avoid being wasteful and to recognize the importance of our natural resources.

  • Papersculpture2011

    pls visit my facebook account for more paper sculpture ive made… papersculpture2011@yahoo.com. tnx and godbless.

  • Papersculpture2011

    pls visit my facebook account for more paper sculpture ive made… papersculpture2011@yahoo.com. tnx and godbless.

  • Papersculpture2011

    pls visit my facebook account for more paper sculpture ive made… papersculpture2011@yahoo.com. tnx and godbless.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniela-Valekova/100001563737376 Daniela Valekova

    oll its wery nice
    My web side “artpaper.altervista.org”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniela-Valekova/100001563737376 Daniela Valekova

    oll its wery nice.
    My web side “artpaper.altervista.org”

  • http://www.sanantonioshredding.com/ shredding San Antonio

    There are many ways on how to recycle or maximize the use of paper. The ideas you shared are wonderful additions to craft making that can be made from recycled paper. Art enthusiasts out there will surely be inspired to use these kinds of materials on their projects. Thanks for sharing a very helpful post.

blog comments powered by Disqus