Sunday, January 18, 2009

Recycling retail packaging

A lot of the crafting products we buy have a fair bit of packaging, which ends up in the garbage and landfills. I challenge you to take a second look at the packaging before throwing it away. These can often be cut apart and used in other projects. Clear plastic can be used to make window cards, the openings in boxes can be used as frames, and some companies even include elements on their packages which can be cut out and re-used.

These photos show how I cut up just two Amy Butler packages from K&Company, similar to the new package also shown. I saved the plastic from the front of the box, the frames from the window opening, the printed strips on the sides and bottom of the box, and the flowers and sentiments from the back. These are fantastic to re-use in your craft projects, if not your own, you can give them to your kids, or a local school or a Boys and Girls club. They would be very happy to have these kinds of art supplies.




So before you throw it out next time, think first if you can re-use any of it.

4 comments:

sideoats + scribbles said...

Great thinking! I do this too -- I even like to save those sleeves that go around coffee cups! :)

Michele Kovack said...

I try to do this too! I have a section in my basement for alterables that include packaging from things I have bought!

Brooke S said...

Thanks for the sweet comments on my blog...

You are a very resourceful gal I will have to say... First Tinkerbell know packaging... Way to go...

I love saving calendars... I have several years of calendars just waiting for a project ...

Hugs
Brooke

Firenze said...

Very cool ideas! TFS
Helen -- Firenze Cards
(via Facebook/Cool2Craft)