Scrapping Green: Earth Happy Scrapbooking

One of the disadvantages of paper scrapbooking is that it requires a substantial amount of material. Each page requires a piece of paper or card stock for the background, plus paper used for die cuts, frames and other embellishments. Then there are the non-paper embellishments, and let’s not forget the scrapbook cover. The finished product is worth the money spent, but it can also have an impact on the environment.

Fortunately, there are environmentally responsible scrapbook materials available. Read on to find out how you can keep on scrap booking without feeling guilty about all of the materials you’re using.

Recycled Paper

When we think of environmentally responsible scrapbook supplies, the first thing that usually comes to mind is recycled paper. It’s certainly a step in the right direction, because recycling paper saves trees. But when you purchase recycled paper products, it’s crucial to know what you’re buying.

The most important consideration when buying recycled paper is how much of it is actually recycled. Each package should list the percentage of recycled materials that were used in the paper’s manufacture. The higher the percentage, the better. But it’s also important to know the percentage of post-consumer waste used. This is paper that has been recycled after it has hit the market and been used, as opposed to pre-consumer waste, which is scraps created when cutting the paper during manufacturing. Pre-consumer waste is almost always reused by manufacturers, so it’s not recycling in the traditional sense.

Another important consideration is the type of ink is used to print these papers. Many inks can be harmful to the environment. Look for vegetable or soy-based inks, which are environmentally safe.

Doing Your Own Recycling

Using recycled paper is an excellent start when you’re trying to be good to the environment in your scrapbooking. But using items that you would have otherwise thrown away can both help the environment and save you money. It takes some imagination, but there are lots of things you can reuse in your scrapbooks. These include:

• Maps - Maps are great for matting and backdrops. You can also cut out the states or countries you went to on vacation and incorporate them into memory pages.
• Wrapping paper and trimming - You can make all sorts of nice embellishments out of wrapping paper. And ribbons are a staple for most scrapbookers, so hanging onto the ones you receive with gifts makes a lot of sense.
• Greeting cards - Not only can you cut out the handwritten notes and add them to a page for a personal touch, you can also cut out pretty illustrations and verses to use like die cuts.
• Used containers - Boxes, paper cups, and other containers that would normally be tossed in the garbage can be reused in scrapbooking with a little creativity. Gift boxes with pretty designs can be cut to make photo mats, and paper cups from fast food restaurants often have promotional designs that you can cut out and use.

Reusing items and buying recycled scrapbook materials can greatly reduce your scrap booking hobby’s impact on the environment. But it’s also important to recycle everything you can, including your waste paper. Doing these things might require a little more time and effort, but the benefits to Mother Earth are worth it.

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