Recycle Magazine Papers to something Useful: Origami Envelope

What would you do with magazine papers or newspapers that would otherwise end up in trash. Try some origami instead. We all know the importance of paper and why there is the need to reuse and recycle them. 

You will be surprised to know that despite the digital boom, every household and the corporate world using digital and electronic gadgets, the use of paper however has not reduced. We are using more and more paper every day for different purposes. If we cannot reduce the use of paper, we can play a small role ourselves in recyling them in whatever way we can. A data says that each ton of recyled paper can save 17 trees, 3 cu. yards of landfill space, 4,000 kw of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. This represents around 65% energy savings, around 60% water savings and 60 pounds less of air pollution. Isn't that wonderful!

Recently, I had an Origami Workshop with one of the leading industries in UAE. I was glad that I got this opportunity to show the benefits of practising Origami and the role of Origami in recycling and reusing paper waste. Origami techniques can be used to make a plethora of useful things that would come handy in our day to day lives or can be used in schools and offices too. The options are endless such as: envelopes, bookmarks, pencil toppers, stationery holder, visiting cards cases, wallets, photoframes, coasters, card holders, boxes and containers, and much more...

Origami - Recycle and Reuse Papers

Origami - the art of paper folding, doesn't preach you to use colored sheets only. Infact, Origami is a great way to recycle paper. Instead of using expensive colored sheets to practice origami, it is better if you use newspapers or magazine papers to fold the complex models before you get the steps right. Not only will it give an idea of how your final model will look, but will also tell you about the right size and type of paper to be used. For example, an origami model that requires several folds, would work best using a thin quality of paper. Similarly, if you need to make several folds, it will be a difficult exercise if you use a small sized paper. So, its better you try folding them several times using newspaper or magazine papers, before you make the final origami project. 

Here's a brief tutorial that shows how you can make an envelope from a magazine paper.

The design and pattern on the magazine page will affect the final outcome of your origami project. Hence choose your paper accordingly. 

The papers used in the tutorial below are around 8"x12" rectangles cut out from an old magazine. We need to cut them into squares. So here's how we cut them into squares without using any tools or measurements.

Magazine papers for Origami

Hold the top left corner and fold it to touch the bottom edge as shown in the picture below. You will get a triangular shape, but make sure that the bottom edges are aligned perfectly. Cut off the remaining rectangular part to get a square paper.

Cutting a rectangular paper into a square

You will get squares of around 8"x8", depending on the size of the magazine paper.

Square papers from rectangular sheet

Tutorial for folding an Origami Envelope using a Magazine paper

Step 01: 
Start with a square sheet of paper, keeping the side you want to be used on the top as shown. Here the size is 7.5"x7.5" square paper.

Step 01: Start with a square paper keeping the colored side on top

Step 02:
Fold it into half along the diagonal. Keep the coloured side or the side you want to be seen on the top.

Step 02: Fold into half diagonally

Step 03:
Now, take the top flap and fold it down to touch the bottom edge at centre. At this step you can glue the flap to the bottom or leave it as it is.

Step 03: Fold in the top flap to touch the bottom edge at centre

Step 04:

Now, take the left corner and fold it in as shown. Actually the bottom edge can be divided into 3 equal parts aproximately. You can use a scale to measure and mark the edge using a pencil into three equal parts if required. Then it makes it easier to fold the left corner to about one third part over to the right side. Glue the flap if needed at this stage. 

Step 04: Fold in the left corner to about 1/3rd part over to the right

Step 05:

Similarly, take the right corner and fold it to about one third part over to the left side. Don't apply glue at this stage.

Step 05: Fold in the right corner to 1/3rd part to the left side

Step 06:
Fold the flap back touching the right end as shown.

Step 06: Fold the flap back touching the right end

Step 07:

Open the small flap as shown.

Step 07: Open the flap

After opening the flap, flatten it well to get a square shape as shown. This will help to seal and secure the envelope without the use of any glue.

Step 07 (contd.): Squash or flatten the flap to get a square shape

Step 08:
Fold the top corner of the envelope down and crease well.

Step 08: Fold the top corner down

Done:

Tuck the top flap of the envelope into the bottom square pocket you formed in step 07.

Done: Tuck in the top flap into the square pocket as shown

The envelope is ready. The top flap is secured into the bottom square. You don't need any glue to secure it further and a beautiful envelope is ready to use.

Origami Envelope from recycled magazine paper

The final size of the envelope is around 3.5"x 2.75". You can use a bigger sized sheet to get a larger sized envelope.

Make some envelopes with the magazine papers or fold them into interesting origami creatures. Its your choice if you want to recycle and reuse the paper to make something useful or make something for fun. Rest for sure, both are better options than to just throw these beautiful, glossy and colorful sheets into the trash bin.

Origami using Magazine papers

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Recycling Empty Containers for Useful Purposes

Instead of disposing empty packaged containers that comes along with drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, milk powders etc. that usually are made from thick cardboard paper, they can be reused in our homes itself by just upscaling them a little bit. I often do this - a small part I play in the process of recycling and reducing the carbon footprints. This post contains the tutorial on how I often recycle them. Keep reading till the end for suggestions and tips on decorating them and using them for various other purposes too.

Materials required:

Empty containers, some decorative sheets, satin ribbons, beads for decoration, needle & thread, glue, a pair of scissors.

Empty Packaged Containers 

A4 colored sheets, ribbons and beads for decoration

Procedure:
I had a couple of empty containers I wanted to reuse for storing stationery materials. I used the same procedure to decorate both of them.

Step 1:

The procedure is very simple. Just cut out strips from A4 sized colored sheets and glue them on the containers' outer surface. I left the inside of the containers untouched for they were already coated and lined with a silver sheet. If the container's inner surface is damaged, you could certainly cover it from the inside.

Step 1: Glue the paper strips on the outer surface of the containers

Step 2:

To decorate the container further, I used a satin ribbon and some beads. I had saved some satin ribbons from an old dress of my kid and used it for decorating this container. Instead of gluing the beads, I used a needle and thread to attach the beads to the ribbon permanently. 

Just measure the size of ribbon needed by rolling it around the surface of the container and cut the required length, keeping a little margin to glue it later.

Step 2: Satin ribbons, some beads, needle & thread

Step 2 (contd.): Using a needle and thread to attach the beads to the ribbon

Step 3:

Once, the ribbons with the beads are ready, just glue them on to the surfaces as required.

Next, make a simple bow using the ribbons. I didn't have to make the bow, since I had saved this from an old dress of my child. Once, I glued the ribbon around the top of the container, all I had to do was glue the ready-made bow onto it - a quick and easy way to recycle old clothes.

Step 3: Adding ribbons with beads and
a ready-made bow to the tall container.

Step 3 (contd.):
Ribbons with beads for the short container

Step 3 (contd.): Glue the ribbons to hide the joints
where two colored paper strips meet.

Done:
So just in a few easy steps the container is ready for use. I used the short one for storing pencils and the tall one for storing other stationery items.

Done: Pencil holder ready for use

The Stationery holders are ready to use

Suggestions and Tips:

• You can also use gift wrappers or other decorative sheets to cover the surface and decorate them further. 
• These containers can be used for various other purposes. It can also be used in your kitchens for holding knives/spoons, etc. as a cutlery stand.
• You can also use them for holding spoons, straws, etc. to match the themes for your parties or other events. A couple of years ago, I made one to hold spoons for a 'Frozen' theme birthday party for my daughter with a painting of the Olaf character on it and all the kids loved it. 

Olaf Spoon holder for 'Frozen' themed birthday party

• Another spoon holder made for 'rainbow' theme birthday party. All I did was glue strips of seven different colors onto the surface of the container and a rainbow spoon holder was ready in a few minutes.

Spoon holder for 'Rainbow' themed birthday party

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