Have you ever wondered what to do with your old magazines when the pile of glossies on your nightstand gets too tall? Here are some useful tips that will not only recycle your magazines, but actually transform them into other useful items:
- Store any type of cords with a magazine made cord holder. Step one: Roll up one of your used magazines and secure it with tape. Step two: Wrap your extension cord, those annoying Christmas tree lights, or any type of cord for that matter, around it to keep it from tangling.
- Use your discarded magazines as a protective liner for your liner. Line your Koi pond or that patio garden. Before adding a liner, place a thick layer of magazine pages over the surface of the excavated area to keep rocks and roots from puncturing the liner. (Newspaper works, too.)
- Create an impromptu “bathroom lift” for your young ones to reach the sink. Get a box, approximately the same size as your magazines. Stack the magazines in the cardboard box and then seal it up with heavy packing tape. Paste images from the magazine all over the outside for some decoration.
- Keep glass paint-free. Who needs tape? Before painting window muntins, wet the edges of magazine pages and press them onto the panes, edges against the muntins. After painting, the paper peels off easily.
- Make boot trees. Ever get tired of the folded crease in your designer boots? Roll them up and use them as boot liners to keep the shape of your cowboy or dress boots. Maybe use the boots as storage of those rolled cords (see first suggestion) – if space and storage are issues.
- Protect work surfaces. Line your worktable and the floor beneath it with magazine pages for easy cleanup after a messy job.
- Wrap a present. Why pay for gift wrap? Recycle colorful pages from old magazines instead.
- Line your drawers. Use heavyweight magazine pages to keep drawer bottoms clean.
- Use as a trivet. Slide a magazine under a hot pot or dish to protect your tabletop.
- Use them for artwork. Purchase an inexpensive frame from your local crafts store and line it with magazine images of your favorite items and then hang your new masterpiece!
- Elevate a plant. Potted plant too short for a planter? Pile magazines at the bottom of the planter, and put the pot on top.
If you have any additional suggestions for ways to recycle and re-use your old magazines, please comment!
