1. Exploring the parallelism in packaging is too fun. Really. If there’s a perfect right leg, then there’s another perfect left leg nearby.

2. You’re able to free special people who might otherwise spend their final days in the recycle bin. Not that there’s anything bad about recycling. We do need cereal boxes of tomorrow.

3. It’s relaxing. Yip. Doing something silly you choose to do is the meaning of relaxation.

4. No money down. In fact, no money at all!

5. Your kids or pets can help. Again, free entertainment.

6. Paperboard people give your magnets something pretty to hold up. Or something ugly. It’s up to you.

7. You can see your paperboard person on Junk Creation. Take a photo and email it to peggy.rowland (at) b5media.com.

So, please…

eye your next box of oatmeal or package of spaghetti as a masterpiece in the making.

Image by me.

Post from: Blisstree

Valid Reasons to Make a Paperboard Person

Ms. Twinings is proudly composed of a paperboard tea box and some tea tags. Everything is reused except the glue holding her together. I thought about making the movable variety, but she seemed like the wild type with all that caffeine.

Why make a paperboard person?

I’m so glad you asked. Please check back and I’ll give you all the extremely valid reasons for taking 10 to make one of these.

PS – That thing on her chest is a magnet. Ms. Twinings is occupying my refrigerator door.

Image via me.

Post from: Blisstree

My Paperboard Person

So, there I was in my red recliner with a J Jill catalog I didn’t want. And there was kitty sitting in the floor whining for attention.

I started tearing out pages, one by one. I wadded them up and threw them across the room for my cat, Choco. He loved it. He even managed to catch a few between his paws.

After the entire magazine was lying on the floor in wads, I realized the fun just didn’t have to stop there.

Harnessing Catalog Pages as Free Cat Toys or Beds:

1. Let the catalog wads sit in the floor for a while. Cats love to rest on top of paper. Free cat bed!

2. Put the paper wads in your cat’s carrier. This creates something like those magical ball things kids like to jump around in. This can also be done with a crinkle sack.

3. When finished with #2, turn the carrier up and dump the paper over your cat.

4. Put the catalog wads in a shoe box, and let kitty dig around. Cats always think there’s something hiding. (Add a toy mouse as a bonus.)

5. Leave the paper inside the shoe box as a mattress for kitty’s cat bed and blanket. I’ve tried cat beds from the pet store. Choco prefers his shoe box.

6. Scoop up the catalog wads and save them for another day. I stored mine in a reusable shopping bag. If you take them away, kitty will be more interested on their return. Plus, it’s difficult to vacuum with paper in the floor.

7. And there’s the original fun of letting you cat try to catch the catalog wads as you throw them. Plus, if your cat’s anything like mine, he enjoys perching atop high places while you throw things for him to catch. For Choco, this means getting on top of the media cabinet.

8. Finally, when paper gets worn, just throw it in the recycling bin.

Are you going to try catalog page wads as cat toys?

Images by me with Choco participating as a willing model. No cat was forced to play for this post.

Post from: Blisstree

Many Uses of Catalog Pages to Entertain Cats

Forgive me. I like the lighting on my balcony, and I wanted you to see my petunias!

Things I learned: It’s better to be patient and get thicker cork board instead of settling with what’s available on your first trip to the craft store. And Elmer’s Stix All Gel Cement doesn’t come out of the tube quite as easily as it should. Finally, be very careful when cutting cork as it can be delicate.

Keep reading after the jump for a list of items used and directions. Plus, why did I make this anyway?

Why I made this junk creation:
I work (at home) late at night and I sometimes leave post-it note messages for Michael on the kitchen cabinet because I know he’ll look there, next to the coffee pot. I’m almost out of the giant pack of post-it notes I bought years ago. And since they aren’t exactly eco-friendly, I decided to use scrap paper and upcycle an old wooden cutting board for use as a message center. The board had seen better days, and I just got a new one as a gift anyway.

Things I used:
•Old wooden cutting board
•Hobby cork roll
•Drill
•Pencil & ruler
•Exacto knife or razor blade
•Glue (I used non-flammable Elmer’s Stix All Gel Cement.)

How I made:
With a ruler and pencil, I drew off the area I wanted covered with the cork.

I cut the cork to size and applied the gel cement to the board, making sure to cover all corners. Then I laid the cut cork onto the drawn-off area with glue. I chose non-flammable glue since I was going to use this board in the kitchen, but that’s me being extra safe. The glue I used does seem to work well with cork.

Since I was impatient and got the first cork roll I came by, I had to double my layers to make it thick enough to hold thumb tacks. I’m sure it’s possible to find thicker cork board, but I didn’t see it at my store.

I covered the board with magazine pages to protect the books I’m about to mention. Then I laid several heavy books on top and let cure for 24 hours.

After that, I drilled a hole in the handle for hanging and located my tacks. I had some fishy thumb tacks that were just dying to be used.

I wanted a simple message center, but you may wish to paint or otherwise adorn your cutting board before applying cork.

Would you consider this project with an old cutting board you were going to get rid of anyway?

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Kitchen Message Center from Cutting Board

Things I learned:

Fortunes from cookies aren’t so great for decoupage as the ink runs.
However, thinner paper is much easier to work with.
Cat hair finds its way onto anything I try to paint, especially if it’s white.

Things I used:

•A small Daisy sour cream container
•Mod Podge as a medium and paint or foam brush (You may also use Elmer’s with water.)
•Vacation mementos like ticket stubs or brochures (Detailed list  of items I used is located at the end of this post.)
•White acrylic non-toxic paint (I used Ceramcoat white.)

First, clean and paint a dry sour cream or similar container. It took two coats, and I allowed it to dry 20 minutes after each coat. If you’re planning on covering the whole container, you don’t have to paint. I wanted more of a scrapbook effect with some white. If you’re not painting, make sure you have plenty of images and apply your least favorite images first as they will be covered before you’re finished.

Second, choose and cut your mementos. You can scan them as well, but I had two of most of the items I used like ticket stubs.

Third, slather on the Mod Podge! Apply your pieces and put more Mod Podge on top of them as well. Follow directions on Mod Podge to achieve the kind of finish you desire. I wasn’t too picky about sanding mine and applying multiple coats. One moderate coat did it for me. I allowed it to dry overnight. There was no tackiness when dry.

Fourth, make sure all your images are glued down. You may need to reapply Mod Podge or spot glue. I only had trouble with one thicker image not wanting to stay down.

Fifth, drill 2-3 holes in the bottom of container with a Dremel or other tool. Sit planter on top of flipped up lid for drainage. Of course if you’re not planting anything in your container, just skip this step.

The Vacation Scrapbook Planter is a fairly easy project and a good way to get your feet wet with decoupage if you haven’t tried it before. Now, what to plant…

Here’s exactly what I included on the planter:

•Ticket stub to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore from 1-25-06. It has penguins on it — very cute. They have the greatest chimp exhibit I’ve seen.

•Ticket stub to The Red Shoes showing at a Powell & Pressburger film festival, 9-24-07.

•Part of brochure and stub from Portland Classical Chinese Garden.

•Part of brochure from the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, IL. That’s a wonderful Frank Lloyd Wright house with many of the original furnishings still in place. I think Jennifer at Offbeat Homes would drool over this, but they don’t allow visitors to take photos of the interior.

•Golden sun from a birthday card.

There you have it. Do you have any decoupage planters?

Images via Peggy Rowland.

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Vacation Scrapbook Planter from Sour Cream Container

After rinsing a used ketchup bottle, I decided it had a different destination than the recycling bin.

Cats love a puzzle. And better yet, I didn’t have to spend anything to make this toy. I already had the toy mouse to go inside.

This is a very easy reuse project, plus if you save the bottle cap, your options widen even more, but we’ll talk about that in a bit.

What I used:
Clean wide-mouth ketchup bottle
Elmer’s glue (non-toxic)
Jute
Sharpie
Scissors
Tea tags

The junk project:
-Remove bottle label by soaking in hot water. After the bottle is dry, plan your design.

-In my case, I decided to make a simple cat face from jute. It doesn’t really matter want you choose as long as you don’t completely cover the bottle. The idea is to allow kitty to see inside it.

-I drew my design with a Sharpie and then applied glue one section at a time. I cut the jute to match my design and applied.

-For the whiskers, I untwisted a piece of jute. This gave me three thinner, curly pieces to use.

-For the nose and inside of ears, I cut out designs from a raspberry tea tag.

-I considered using buttons for the eyes, but they looked creepy and I was afraid my cat would eat them. So, I drew the eyes on with a Sharpie.

As always, supervise your cat when playing with the toy. Make sure you haven’t used any materials your cat may eat. Use non-toxic glue.

Additional kitty uses:
Cat treat container — Put treats inside and shake before treating. Cats learn this noise and react when you’re about to give them a treat. Keep lid for this use.

Catnip infuser — Put mice or other toys inside with catnip when not in use. The catnip bath will keep pets interested in toys when you bring them back out. Keep lid for this use.

Cat food scoop — Cut off portion near mouth for a handy scoop.

Would your cat enjoy this junk toy?

Images via Peggy Rowland.

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Cat Toy (and more) from Ketchup Bottle

Here’s a project that requires a little glue, but it’s lovely for a tea sipper.

Simple directions for Tea Tag Bookmark:

-After selecting your favorite tags, arrange in pattern. I used six tags.
-Apply small amounts of glue to bottom tips of tags and begin building the bookmark.
-Wipe away any excess glue on both sides of bookmark.
-Tie a ribbon or a used tea string to the top.
-Let rest between magazine pages, layered with books.
-After just minutes, enjoy your new junk creation!

I chose a stained tea string for a bit more character, but you may want to doll yours up with a coordinating ribbon.

Is this something you would enjoy?

Image via Peggy Rowland.

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Tea Tag Bookmark

The magazine I chose to cut up (in places) was the August 1953 Show magazine, which sold originally for .10 cents. I made more tags than I’m showing here, but the lighting at my place is just weird. Most of the photos were blurry. Too bad, but you get the idea. In case you missed it, check out how to make these.

For my first tag, I choose an ad for the New! 1953 “Space Commander” Vibro-Matic Walkie-Talkies (2 Phones only $1) Thrills & Fun Galore!

Then I picked some images from the story, “Degas Comes to Harlem.” I like the round tag above best. I love that it has a page number on it in the lower right corner.

I also chose to make some tags from the story, “Guide to Paris Clubs.” These were some wild images. That’s another thing I like about projects like this. I had no idea mags in the 50s talked so much about sex. My, my. I got the wrong idea from Leave It to Beaver.

Will you try your own vintage gift tags?

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Vintage Gift Tags from Me

I’m sure this idea may exist somewhere in a book, but my love for old magazines inspired me to make my own vintage gift tags. Most of the materials for making these are reused, with the exception of glue and maybe whatever you use to tie. Think of it as saving trees with your gift-giving.

Here’s what you need:
-Some vintage magazines (I got mine for only $1.25 each at an antique store)
-Hole puncher
-String, hemp twine or ribbon (use whatever you have)
-Glue and scissors
-Cardboard/paperboard to reuse (excellent sources: pizza boxes [store bought ones with the pizza wrapped so it doesn't get cardboard dirty], inserts that come in curtains or shower liners [these are perfect as they aren't printed on], pasta boxes)

How to make:
Simply choose your images from a magazine you don’t mind cutting into or scan the images. Cut your cardboard to whatever shape you want — square or round, etc. Decide if you want to make a folding card or a tag. The rest should be pretty obvious — glue on image, punch hole and tie string. When tying the string, make a loop, guide through hole and bring the cut ends through loop end and pull. If you’re concerned about being able to write on the back of the tag when you’ve used cardboard that’s been printed on, just glue a same-sized backing to it from another piece of cardboard.

Please check back later today for images of my vintage gift tags!

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Vintage Gift Tag Recipe

1. Fragrance for drawer or linen closet (Add small amount of essential oil.)

2. Display for your smashed tourist pennies

3. Office supply storage


4. Holder for tie clips or those things in collar points

5. Loose coin collector

6. Personal care accessory keeper

7. Keeper for lapel pins or rings

8. Spice-it-up accent for your windowsill (With shells or whatever)

9. Accent piece by photo frame (Tell a story.)

10. Condiment cup for dried spices like cilantro* (For measuring when cooking.)

11. Scoop for cat or bird food*

12. Coffee scoop* (Don’t store inside coffee canister in case it makes coffee smell like oranges. And of course, it has to be clean — not used to store nail clippers.)

13. Bird food dish. (Only if in covered area that won’t get wet.)

14. Do not disturb sign. (Create hole with lacing needle and tie with string.)

15. Place on top of other orange half and use as trinket box. (Sorry the other half declined being photographed for this use.)

16. Button keeper

*The problem with using it as a food scoop (like for coffee) is that you can’t wash this. It will become soft again. Of course, you could re-bake. Or repurpose.

Can you think of other uses? Is this something you would try?

Post from: Blisstree

My Junk Creation: Sixteen Uses for Baked Orange Cup