I work at an office where they like to make tons of extra copies. It bothers me to no end. We go through about 15 reams of paper in a month. I guess there’s no real way of forcing everyone into the habit of using the extra copies for printer paper or to make everyone not make extra copies.
One day I took them home and made a scrap paper notepad.
Supplies/Materials:
Scrap paper
Hard stock or used folders (I like manila folders) and magazine cut outs or pictures to decorate the covers with.
Yarn or embroidery
A hole puncher or paper needle
Scissors or a utility knife
Ruler (preferably a three sided engineering ruler, it’s sturdier than a regular flat ruler and theres not fear of accidentally cutting your hand with a utility knife)
Glue (I prefer rubber cement. It is mistake and user friendly)
Step 1: Cut your paper to the size you want your pad to be. Remember that you are going to lose an inch to a half an inch for the binding.
Step 2: Cut your cardstock/cover sheet/folder…etc to the size of the scrap paper. Remember to cut one for the back too. For the cover, fold about a half and inch to an inch down to create crease.
Step 3: Decorate you cover pieces before you bind them. I use old magazines.
Step 4: Figure out how you’re going to bind the whole thing together. I used a thick paper needle and poked holes all the way through the packet. It is easier to use a hole punch I have found.
Step 5: Take some leftover yarn/ribbon/embroidery floss and stitch everything together.
Finished Product:
I think this is a pretty good way to use up scrap paper that would otherwise end up in the trash.
