Cheap Creative Crafting with Paper and Twine
If you love to create with what you have on hand and to repurpose with what you have on hand check out these fun and easy ideas for using brown paper (the type that's packed into boxes), regular coffee filters, and basic twine!
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Brown Paper Crafts
When you order something online and the package arrives do you find yourself flattening out and folding the brown packing paper from the package?
You do. So do I! I knew I wasn't the only one. 😉 Once I have a nice tidy pile of brown packing paper I start looking around for things to wrap.....
Over the years I've used it to wrap around plants to give as gifts. {you can find the details here}
I've used it to wrap around mason jar vases (don't forget the twine bow).
I've also used it to wrap CDs and other small gifts. All you have to do is embellish the package with some cute little ephemera to personalize it. For this one I also used my sewing machine to attach some little labels using a simple zigzag stitch! The possibilities are endless...and inexpensive!
Coffee Filter Crafts
Now for some inexpensive coffee filter crafts!
I've used brown paper coffee filters to make paper flowers to top gifts with or for a mantel garland....
I've used coffee filters to make wreaths like this beautiful one!
Coffee filters can be dyed in beautiful colors (get the full tutorial on how to dye coffee filters here)...
and, once their dyed you can make so many beautiful things with them - like this garland!
What crafty things have you done with packing paper or coffee filters? I'd love to hear about it.
I don't craft with the brown paper but I do recycle it....my friend sells on Ebay so I pass on all my boxes and packing of any kind, to her. Not sure why I never thought of a use for the wad of brown craft paper. Probably because I am marveling at why they put so much in to protect something in the box that doesn't need protecting and why such a large box for one tiny item was used to begin with!
I always wonder why they put so much paper in a box as well, Bliss!
I do the same thing with packaging paper and now I know what to do with my stash!! Love these ideas Mary Beth!
Thanks so much, Vanessa! xo
The succulent is my favorite...but all of your crafting paper ideas are so fun!! These would be awesome teacher or Mother's Day gifts for sure!
Thanks so much, Kristi, and what a great idea to give these as gift for teachers or Mother's Day. 🙂
Such a great idea. I need to get on the paper wagon, MB!!
SO creative! Such a great idea.
clearly I have been missing out not using the packing paper like I should! great ideas.
Thanks so much, Laura! 🙂
So many great ideas - I love the plants wrapped in brown paper!
Thank you so much, Carrie!
Pinned this post. I absolutely love the brown paper around the plant. It's so springy! xoxo
Thank you so much, Malia! xoxo