How to Reuse Craft Materials

The movement to recycle is not going away any time soon. Contributing to this movement is as easy as reusing craft materials. Being green can make you think of your leftover scrap materials in a whole new light. They are no longer garbage, but rather inspirations. Scraps of leftover fabric can be transformed into a decorative wreath, old cards can turn into Christmas ornaments, or scrap of paper can turn into a framed wall collage.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric scraps
• Wire hanger
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Ribbon scraps
• Wire trimmers
• 1 1/2 inch circular punch
• Hole punch
• Craft glue
• Glitter
• Holiday cards
• Ribbon
• Plate
• Scrap paper
• Frame 8X10
• Cardboard 8X10
• Paper cutter
• Mod podge
• Paint brush

Instructions

Fabric Scrap Wreath

1. Reshape wire hanger into a circle. Shape the top hook of the wire hanger into a loop. Twist the top and use wire cutters to trim excess wire. This is the base of your fabric scrap wreath.

2. Lay out fabric scraps. Cut into 1 by 3-inch sections.

3. Cut scrap ribbons into 3-inch scraps. Leave one scrap ribbon at least 18 inches long.

4. Tie fabric scraps to the wire hanger until it is completely covered. Tie the long ribbon around the base of the hanging loop you created. Allow the ends of the ribbon to hang down in front of the wreath.

Christmas Card Ornaments

1. Cut old Holiday with large circular craft punch. If you do not have a circular punch you can cut a circle freehand.

2. Punch small hole at top of ornament.

3. Paint a thin line of craft glue around the edge of the ornament.

4. Place ornament on top of a plate. Sprinkle glitter on ornament and allow to dry for one hour. Lift ornament gently shaking off glitter and return excess glitter to container.

5. Tie ribbon through hole on top of ornament and hang.

Scrap Paper Collage

1. Cut scrap paper into various sizes with your paper cutter.

2. Arrange paper over 8 by 10 cardboard. Paper can overlap.

3. Remove paper from cardboard. Paint back of paper scraps with mod podge and lay on cardboard. Allow to dry for one hour and paint an additional layer of Mod Podge over entire collage.

4. Frame and hang.

Tips & Warnings

• Rather then throw away scraps of craft material, think of ways it can be used.

• Look into waste recycling organizations that offer materials from large corporations to artists.

• Always allow proper drying time.

References

• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Scrap Exchange