How to Use Your Old Magazines Creatively

Put your magazines to use after you are done reading them.

Just because you are done reading a magazine does not mean you should toss it in the trash. You can do a wide array of things with old magazines instead of adding them to the already over-full landfills. Take advantage of the bright colors and engaging images featured in your favorite magazines, and use these print pages as art project materials to enhance your living space.

Things You'll Need

• Old magazines
• Scissors
• Paper
• Glue
• Box
• Shellac
• Paint brush
• Envelope
• Adhesive magnets
• Laminating material

Instructions

1. Create a collage. Select a theme for your collage, or simply create a collage that contains images and words that appeal to you. Clip the images and words of your choice out of your magazine. Place your clipped magazine pieces in overlapping fashion on a sheet of paper. Glue each piece down to finalize your collage and finish off your work of art.

2. Decoupage a box. Turn a boring box into a work of art with decoupage. Cut out pictures or words that you would like to feature on a box. Using a painted-on unfinished wooden box, glue your gathered pieces down using a mixture of three parts water and one part glue. Allow your glue to dry. Cover your finished product with shellac to create a hard shell to protect your creation.

3. Make envelopes. Carefully unfold a pre-made envelope, taking care not to rip it. Lay this envelope out on a page from your magazine and trace around it. Cut around your traced lines. Fold your clipped magazine page to create an envelope form. Glue the magazine page as necessary to produce an envelope pouch.

4. Produce magnets. Showcase your favorite magazine images on your refrigerator by creating magnets. Clip out images or words that appeal to you from the magazines. Use a home laminating material, or take your images to a copy center and have them professionally laminated. Clip around your laminated images, leaving a border of lamination. Using adhesive magnets, affix them to the back of each laminated image or word to create your magnets.

5. Compose poetry. Demonstrate your poetic skill using your old magazines. Cut out words that appeal to you. Arrange these words on a sheet of paper to form a meaningful poem. Glue the words down to secure them in place. Stow your poem for safe keeping, or frame it and put it on display.

References

• Creative Homeschool: Fun with Old Magazines
• Green Options: Creative Uses for Junk Mail