The Joys of Junk Mail: Creative Ways to Use Junk Mail and Methods to Remove it.

I used to loathe junk mail. Every time I opened the mailbox and saw a ratty, full-color 4-page newspaper flyer advertising products and services that were more or less worthless, I would grit my teeth and furrow my brow; two actions that are now known to contribute to premature aging. I would experience a similar reaction to those promotional mass mailings where they can’t even get the spelling of your name right, or to those obvious trash letters addressed to “resident” or “occupant”.

Being the Green-minded Lotus that I fancy myself to be, I was doubly offended by all this needless waste of paper. It may be effective to stop the mailing of paper statements and invoices coming from your banks and vendors, but it’s quite another thing to try to quell the flow of junk mail.

I’ve spent many hours on the phone and the computer, trying to put a stop to the tsunami of unwanted paper, but my exhaustive efforts could only be likened to the unfortunate sailor trying to bail out his sinking boat with a tin cup. The old junk is soon replaced by new junk.

Although curb recycling helps, I have since discovered additional and more joyful ways to deal with junk mail.

If you’ve gone through the traditional method of trying to stop junk mail and are fed up with the stuff that keeps on coming, remember you can send it back if the company has included a pre-stamped return envelope. Why not send them any one of your junk coupons in their own return mail envelope?...or just send them back their own blank form. I understand it costs them more than the regular postage if those pre-paid envelopes are returned. If you haven’t pulled a cool prank on anyone lately, it’s kind of fun. But what do you do with the other junk mail?

The first thing you need to do is to separate the glossy paper junk mail from the plain print junk mail. The glossy print works great for arts and crafts project, but the ink can be toxic if burned or ingested. Ingested, you say? Quite so, at least indirectly; so if you’re intrigued read on.

Talk about coincidence, junk mail has a lot in common with manure. It makes great garden mulch that’s rich in nitrogen. You wouldn’t want to use glossy print photos; however, since most of the toxic ink materials are in those ads. Junk mail mulch makes your flowers more floriferous and helps you save on soil and commercially prepared fertilizer.

I learned this handy recycling method from an eco-conscious gardener when I was directing an episode for HGTV.

For potted plants - Shred your non-glossy junk mail, mix it with some mulch (like peat moss) or potting soil and use it at the bottom quarter of the pot.

For general garden planting there are two methods – You can shred the paper and mix it with the soil and/or peat moss, then cover it with a top layer of soil.

The other method is to dig a big hole just to cultivate lovely junk mail mulch. Layer your junk mail and newspapers into the bottom of the hole. Cover with soil and wait several months for the mail to decompose. Then use the enriched soil as you would use compost. If you already cultivate a compost pile, you can add your unwanted mail to the mix. Just don't add any glossy paper.

Some gardeners use junk mail on top of the soil to prevent weeds from growing. The downside is that wet paper attracts grubs and snails so I don’t recommend it.

It’s fun to plant from seeds, but finding the ideal environment for cultivating your seedlings can be “iffy”. I recommend the Paper-Pot-Maker.It’s economically priced and it transforms those annoying direct mail penny-saver newspapers into lovely 3” pots, perfect for starting seedlings. You just wrap a strip of junk mail paper around the solid oak press, fold it under, twist into the base and voila!...you get plenty of little pots from one newspaper page. Plant them directly into the soil and the pots will decompose on their own.

Did you know that you can turn junk mail into bricks? You can with the
Newspaper Brick Maker. Unless you’re a little piggy, you won’t want to build your home out of junk mail bricks, but you certainly can heat your home with them! For about $30 Newspaper Brick Maker bricks burn just like real wood; so throw another brick-o-junk on the fire and get out the marshmallows.

It's available Here.

If you’re feeling artistic why not make your own handmade recycled paper? The whole process is relatively simple. You’ll need to gather or purchase some uncomplicated equipment and supplies. Equipment includes a blender or hand mixer to make the paper pulp and window screening and a wooden frame to make the mold. You’ll also need a tub large enough to entirely submerge the frame and some squares of white or cream-colored felt or flannel fabric. You’ll also need a wooden block or rolling pin to help press water out of the new paper.

Sound too complicated? You can purchase a very easy-to-use kit on Amazon.  Recycled paper-making kits won’t take up your entire garage or workroom and it's great fun for the entire family. The blender isn’t included in the kit so I recommend using an old one or purchasing one second-hand just to be used for this purpose. You wouldn’t want to get bits of paper caught in your teeth every time you drink a milkshake.

Hand-made paper can be quite lovely and you can use it for greeting cards, decorations or other art projects. You may even become inspired to sell your paper on-line.

If you feel that papermaking just leaves you with more paper, try another artistic venture –Mosaic Paper Art.

Start with a drawing you created or use a favorite photo or magazine illustration. Cut up your junk mail into small squares and sort them by color and texture. Then select the squares as you would select paint color and paste them onto your drawing or photo. Use a thin, dry glue – like a glue-stick, suitable for paper so the whole thing doesn’t get too lumpy. It’s a fun arts and crafts project for the whole family. Some people have even become professional mosaic artists. Here’s a great site that will get you started.

I used to say that the junk mail news ads were only good for lining the bird cage. I was wrong! Tear it up and it’s also good for lining the hamster or bunny rabbit’s cage! Your chickens will love it too. Just don’t use any glossy paper. Save that for making Decoupage boxes.

Decoupage is a great craft. You apply paper pictures and photos to items such as mugs, wooden boxes, handbags, furniture, or any object with a solid surface. The results can be exquisite or just plain adorable. If there are great photos or illustration found within your junk mail, cut them out and use it for your decoupage collage.

Here’s how to make a Decoupage box.

Shredded or crumpled junk mail makes great packing material. You can even use it to wrap dishes and glassware. Just remember to wash your dishes after you unpack! If you are using the crumple method and your package is being mailed, make sure your junk mail packing doesn’t include any personal identity information.

And here’s wishing you joyful junk mail transformations. If you know of any additional uses for junk mail feel free to add them below in the Comments section. If not, your comments are always welcome.

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