by Danielle L. Hunter

Created on: April 21, 2010

How can scrapbookers be eco-friendly and consume massive amounts of paper? The arts and crafts industry has begun to take steps toward greener scrapbooking options by offering supplies using recycled and sustainable resources. Scrapbookers now have choices to allow room for eco-friendly crafting. Here are eleven simple ways to become a green, eco-friendly scrapbooker:

1. Save paper scraps. When cutting and cropping paper, there are always leftover pieces of cardstock that end up in a trash bin. Instead of throwing these bits of paper away, toss them in a draw or box. Set aside time to organize the scraps by color or size for easy access and use them to make your very own handmade paper or embellishments.

2. Decorate scrapbook pages with gifts. Greeting cards, gift wrap and ribbon are free. According to GreetingCard.org, "Americans purchase 7 billion greeting cards every year." Each one of these cards can be recycled into a photo mat or cut to make decorative page elements such as quote blocks or artwork. Gift wrap and ribbon can also be utilized as free, eco-friendly additions to scrapbooking and card making projects.

3. Keep layouts warm with old clothes. Fabric and buttons look great on scrapbook pages. There are numerous ways to add texture to layouts such as creating borders with fabric strips or sewing buttons onto paper for eye-striking layouts.

4 Dig into the recycling bin. Grocery stores are filled with craft supplies. We all bring home food from the grocery store. The food is stored in cardboard boxes, mesh bags and plastic containers, all items that can be creatively altered to fit into a scrapbook.

5. Shop at green craft companies. When shopping for eco-friendly scrapbooking supplies, look for terms such as soy-based inks, recycled paper or cardstock, handmade paper and embellishments, hemp and organic cotton. Items like these can be found at Creatively-Green.com, a company that sells "art supplies with a conscience" or buy K&Company's recycled scrapbooking products in reusable packaging.

6. Stock up on recycled paper. Diecuts With a View (DCWV) offers an Eco Stack and a Green Stack. Both stacks are 70% post-consumer recycled and acid-free paper. Twisted Limb Paperworks has green options too with their handmade and recycled paper.

7. Add recycled plastic to scrapbooks. Caron's Simply Soft Eco yarn is made from recycled plastic bottles. The yarn is most often used for making things like blankets and sweaters, but can be added to your eco-friendly scrapbooking

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>