The card can be used in many ways. Folding, writing, recycling, building are just a few ideas for reusing paper. This article may seem silly, but paper is actually very useful for making things that are not common and can be used every day. Read on to find out how to creatively use that sheet of paper you have left over!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Doing Things
Step 1. Make origami
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and with it you can create an infinite amount of objects simply from a sheet of paper. You can make cranes, butterflies, foxes and much more. Some wonderful images that can be created are:
- A traditional swan origami
- A paper rose for a loved one
- A bunny - simply because he is so cute!
- A frame for displaying photos or paintings
- An origami of a samurai helmet could be fun!
- A paper box or a star-shaped box to hold small gifts for your friends or family
- Origami of claws to make your Halloween costume more original
Step 2. Decoupage
If you have some papers that you think are important to you, such as brochures, cards and stubs, photos, receipts and letters, you can use them to create a box to keep jewelry, memorabilia or other. Get the object you want to decorate, arrange the paper in a way that suits you and then … away with decoupage!
- You can also add other materials, such as paint, glitter and other details (like buttons or fake flowers) to make it even more special. Some elements may need to be attached with hot glue.
- You can also use those memory cards in a scrapbook if you don't want to destroy them. Just get yourself a photo album with pockets to put them in. Be careful to keep it away from moisture, otherwise the sheets could be damaged!
Step 3. Make some paper mache
Papier-mâché is obtained by combining small pieces of paper or newspaper with a glue substance such as glue or wallpaper paste, and will then be applied to an object or modeled in different shapes. Once dry, it will become harder and can be used in different ways. But be careful not to make too much mess. There are many things you can do with paper mache, including:
- Vases
- Cover for switches
- Shells
- Masks
- Pen holder
- Jewelery holder
Step 4. Make your own personalized greeting cards, an original alternative to store-bought postcards
Creating a postcard is a good opportunity to try out paper-making techniques such as animated cards.
The most basic card making is to take a normal sheet of paper and fold it in half. You can then decorate the blank card with paint, colored pencils, markers, or other materials
Step 5. Make some paper toys
There are pattern books for making some paper toys, such as robots, but you can always make some with a simple piece of paper:
- A game to predict the future
- A football
- Paper planes and boats
Step 6. Create paper art
You can create 2D or 3D paper art shapes. We are not talking about origami here! These are works similar to drawings, but you do not draw shapes to color, but you create them from paper.
- For 2D art, use paper of different colors and cut each different part of the "drawing". If you are making a face, for example, you will need to cut the eyes (possibly in several colored pieces), the nose, the mouth, the skin of the face, the hair (here again in several pieces) and other details. The more elements you cut, the more detailed your work will be.
- For 3D art, you can cut out strips of paper about 2-3 spaghetti widths and place them on the sides of another sheet of paper. Fold and spiral them to create different shapes on the edge.
Method 2 of 3: Have fun
Step 1. Start drawing
Grab a pencil or colored pens and start scribbling! Express yourself and draw everything that inspires you. You can try drawing less realistic things like comics and manga, or maybe draw something from a friend or relative's room. A very nice way to use paper is to go out and draw everything you see. Once finished, you can proudly display your artwork, perhaps in your new origami frame!
Step 2. Play on a sheet of paper
Do you think three of a kind is the only game that can be played on a sheet of paper? Think again. There are other games you can play to occupy time when all you have is a piece of paper and a pen.
- Try the collaborative poetry game called Haikai.
- You can also do your own paper puzzle, like a sudoku puzzle.
Step 3. Play football
You can also play football with paper. Simply fold the paper into a small triangle or roll it into a ball, then start nudging it. You may also want to make goal posts, depending on the amount of paper available.
Step 4. Play naval battle
In fact, you can play the classic board game with just one sheet of paper (and one other player!). Draw an 11 x 11 grid; put letters on one side and numbers on the other. Enter your ships and then start playing. Without cheating!
Step 5. Play points and squares
Draw a grid of equally spaced points, approximately 20 x 20. Each player in turn draws a line between two dots. Whoever draws the fourth line of a square wins it. Whoever has the most squares wins when the grid is full.
Step 6. Make a paper gun and start a war with your friends
You can make a paper gun using paper, scissors, and a rubber band. With this weapon in hand, you can start a game with your friends. Just be careful not to hit yourself in the eye!
Method 3 of 3: Be Productive
Step 1. Recycle the paper
Did you know that 17 trees are saved for every ton of recycled paper? Recycle it even if it has pencil marks. Just because you don't have a use for the paper in mind doesn't mean it should simply be thrown away. You could recycle it using it to make more paper, or you could turn old junk mail into beads.
Step 2. Write stories
The paper was born just to be able to transcribe the stories! You probably already knew that. Grab a pen and bring your imagination to life! Try to find ideas and characters and make sure your storyline has a beginning, a middle and an end. Have fun and be careful not to push your hand too hard! Once you have finished it, you can show it to friends and family for feedback. Well done!
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Don't feel like writing a whole story? Everything is fine! There are several forms of writing you could try, including:
- Poetry and haiku
- Stories
- A personal newspaper
- Comic books
Use Paper Creatively Step 15 Step 3. A little known thing is that you can curl your hair using paper
Start by rolling your hair into the desired shape with brown pouch paper, the way you would use a curling iron. You can fix your hair using this technique on wet hair, applying gel or lacquer, and then sitting under a hair dryer. Your curls will be very soft and healthier, because you haven't used direct heat. Enjoy your cute and energy saving hairstyle!
Use Paper Creatively Step 16 Step 4. Practice writing
You can use the paper to practice your handwriting. Master a new signature, try to reproduce a celebrity signature or practice your handwriting!
Use Paper Creatively Step 17 Step 5. Try a scientific experiment
You can do some science experiments with paper. This might sound boring, but it can actually be a lot of fun! Try invisible writing with lemon juice (the words will magically appear when you swipe the paper over a toaster!) Or see how many times you can fold it. You can also try the classic pull-off tablecloth magic trick using a sheet of paper instead of cloth!
Use Paper Creatively Step 18 Step 6. Play with math flowers
It is a fun game that will help you build math skills. Draw a circle for the center and then all the flower petals you want. The more you have, the harder it will be. Write a number of your choice in the center and in each of the petals. Now your challenge will consist in applying mathematical operations to the numbers written on the petals in order to arrive at the result of the center.
