Pick up the Pieces

Don’t throw away that used construction paper! Instead, make art out of it! I cannot tell you the many times that I have seen my niece and nephew literally cut up construction paper and throw away pieces that they can use for other projects. Instead, get those scissors out and cut out some pieces to make art! Here are some of the many ways that you can use the remaining pieces of construction paper:

Picture Perfect: Those little pieces that you cut out with the scissors, well, glue them to another piece of construction paper and make a design. It is actually simple. You can make a design with the pictures. After gluing the construction paper, you can cut out your artwork and keep continuing the pattern. Just keep using the paper instead of throwing it away.

Origami: Origami comes from Japan and it focuses on paper folding. It was something that I used to love as a kid and have shown my niece and nephew. Such things that I would make were: Flowers, hearts, and butterflies. You can make such beautiful origami and you do not need a new piece of paper. In fact, you don’t need a big piece of paper. Any type of paper will suffice.

DIY Kaleidoscope: So all you need: scissors, multicolor pieces of construction paper, toilet paper/paper towel roll, glue or tape, crayons (optional)

Get a piece of construction paper and scissors and cut out construction paper into a circle that is shaped the same size as the toilet paper or paper towel roll

Then get the different colored pieces of construction paper and cut them.

Glue the pieces of multi-colored construction paper onto the circle shaped construction paper. Or you can color the paper using crayons.

Glue the circle construction paper onto the toilet paper/paper towel roll

Voila! You have your own Kaleidoscope

Save the used construction paper and use it as Confetti!

Homemade flower pot!; What you need: Styrofoam or plastic cup, used construction paper, glue or tape, scissors, crayons/markers (optional).

First: get your cup and construction paper

Then: cut out the construction paper with scissors

Later: glue or tape the pieces of construction paper onto the cup

Finally, you can color of make designs with crayons or markers

Voila! You have your own flower pot!

These projects are not hard to do and they provide creativity, beauty and fun for you. So, Why am I telling you to save those little pieces of construction paper? Well, it is simple: Instead of thinking that the construction paper is not usable and throwing it away, reuse it! There are benefits to this:

Better for the environment!

Beautiful and creative Art

Fun!

More space for your recycling

It does not matter if you think that you cannot make art, let alone beautiful art with used construction paper. Art is meant to be what you view as, not beauty. Art is what we see, feel, experience, what makes others think, what the meaning behind it is and so forth. Nothing should be just thrown away, but instead used for other purposes. I found reusing construction paper and making my own art is relaxing, entertaining and a bonding experience for me and my niece and nephew. I also love seeing what they make as well and seeing the passion and excitement they have for what they make. Use your imagination! Make a sun with construction paper. Make a smiley face with construction paper. Make a happy face with construction paper. What I am trying to say is, use your imagination. Get to working and pick up the pieces!