DIY Life

In this day and age, we are all thinking about ways to be more environmentally friendly. Our household tries to find ways to reuse things rather than throw them out. Cardboard paper towel tubes can become a fun rain stick craft, for example.

It seems there is nothing more bountiful than used paper. From junk mail to gift wrap, stationery to greeting cards, we are inundated with it daily. Don't let it leave you wondering what to do with all that post-tree fodder any longer.

Fish Lips Paper Designs has a fun and useful list of ways to reuse paper. From framing patterned paper as art, to making book covers, to lining your sock drawer, they're sure to have a tip that will breathe new life into your scrap paper. You can even shred it to use as packaging.

Me? I'm going to reuse some colorful gift wrap as mats for black and white photographs. What will you do with your reusable paper?

Sometimes I just can't help myself. I see a gorgeous fabric beckoning me from the remnants table and there is no way I can leave it there. I also buy extra material when doing a sewing project, mostly in case I mess up, but for all of those "just in cases" that speak to me as I am over-buying.

The result is an abundance of fabric at my house, usually about a yard or so of each pattern. Do you share my plight? If so, never fear; there are fabulous projects that require a yard or less of fabric. So make sure you have matching thread and get that machine ready for action!

For the kitchen / entertaining

• Make a table runner. Here's an easy pattern you can follow if you have some material for backing and some fusible fleece or interfacing.
• Create a placemat set. There are instructions to make matching placemats for your table runner, and it becomes more economical to make both when buying the other supplies you will need.
• Fashion a set of cloth napkins. If you want to make them fancy, try this pattern for cloth napkins with a binding edge. They look very high-end.
• Sew pockets into a strip of material and make a caddy to take along silverware for picnics.
• This wine bottle cover uses just under a yard and makes a beautiful presentation of your gift of wine
  

Duct tape is one of those essential materials in every DIY tool box. I am a big fan of duct tape, and admittedly, I've never used it to actually tape ducts. We've looked at all sorts of ways to use this multi-purpose tape. As Ryan cautions, don't use it to tape your baby to the wall. Heather taught us how to create a pretty cool wallet, and now I'm going to bring you yet another use for duct tape: make a journal cover.

What you'll need

1. Book
2. Scissors
3. Duct tape (assortment of colors if you choose)

The method that is outlined in the how to article is probably your best one. You'll actually make a piece of fabric out of duct tape, measured to fit the book. You'll then apply that to the book. Personally, I'd be inclined to cover the book in paper then apply the duct tape to that. Try this as a way to protect your text books or make a funky looking journal cover.