Earth911 has covered craft projects using paper around your home for many years. During our recent home waste audit series, we found that paper is a huge part of the average household waste stream. It renewed our commitment to the thoughtful reuse of paper, so we’ve updated our best DIY paper projects to focus on creating items you can really use.

While 73 percent of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs, we always love a good do-it-yourself adventure. Here are some of our favorite ideas using paper.

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Cardboard Chair

Test your DIY skills with the ultimate in cardboard reuse: furniture. We designed and executed the most basic cardboard chair, and while even a simple design was hard work, it proved to be worthwhile as we learned a lot. Instructables has step-by-step instructions for one style of cardboard chair as well as suggestions for four other styles of DIY cardboard chairs. And SofasandSectionals has five-step instructions for a different style of chair you can make from cardboard.

What you’ll need: cardboard, box cutter, straight edge, wood glue, decoration materials (markers, stickers, etc.), string

Step #1: Gather the cardboard. You won’t need a ton, but you will need some larger pieces, such as four 24″ x 18″ rectangles to make your side frames.

Step #2: Cut the various pieces needed. We used 17 in total. Note: If you want to decorate your pieces, do it now before they are assembled. It’s much easier to draw on a flat surface than a completed chair.

Step #3: Assemble the pieces, using the wood glue as necessary. We also used string to help hold the pieces tightly together while they dried. We recommend at least two hours for drying time, if not more. Overnight is best — if you can wait that is.

Step #4: Sit back, relax, and enjoy your hard work.

Taking more time, having sharper box cutters, and maybe more experienced builders would have corrected some of our issues. However, working with the cardboard itself was a bit of a struggle, which is hard to rectify no matter how many experts you have on hand. In the end, learning to accept the flaws may be the biggest challenge of all.

Tetra Pak Coin Purse

You may have Tetra Pak or similar cartons in your kitchen, holding food products ranging from juice boxes to soup. While this packaging is made from paper, the coated lining that makes it waterproof often makes it hard to recycle as well. But the great part about this material is that it makes for a sturdy material for craft projects. Our favorite find was a small coin purse from Esprit Cabane. There is a detailed instruction guide for this project at Instructables.

What you’ll need: A colorful Tetra Pak package (don’t worry about text or branding as the folding will make it unreadable), box cutter, staples or tape, self-adhesive Velcro, decoration materials (buttons, beads, etc.)

Step #1: Rinse out the carton, unfold corners, and flatten to dry.

Step #2: Cut off the top and bottom portions of carton using a box cutter.

Step #3: Fold the carton in half and cut off one-third of one of “half sides” to make the flap.

Step #4: Refold the carton into three sections. Staple or tape the inside edges to make the pockets.

Step #5: Add two pieces of self-adhesive Velcro to close the purse. Remember to allow for coin thickness. For an individual touch, adorn with a bead or button.

Magazine Bowl

The intricacy of this project speaks for itself. This project is time-consuming, but we think the outcome is gorgeous. It’s the perfect talking piece for any coffee table.

Originally posted on A Little Hut by Patricia Zapata, this project requires minimal materials. However, you will need an abundance of patience. We suggest you take a look at the photos and instructions for a visual step-by-step representation.

What you’ll need: one magazine (you probably won’t use more than half of it), glue gun

Step #1: Tear out individual pages from the magazine. Don’t worry about making them perfect. Fold each page lengthwise in half. Then, fold each piece in half about four times until you have a strip that is about a half-inch thick. Repeat this step for each layer.

Step #2: Add each strip to your foundation piece by keeping the folded edge outside of the circle and the open side toward the inside. When your base is wide enough (about 5 inches across), start to build the bowl by placing each strip about one-eighth of an inch higher than the previous row.

Step #3: Glue down each strip of paper, leaving a small piece unglued so you can tuck it into the strip under it. Note: Place each strip as quickly and efficiently as possible as the glue dries really quickly.

Step #4: Build the strips up and out to make the bowl as big as you desire.

Shopping Bag Shipping Envelope

As much as we vow to bring our reusable bags to the grocery store, sometimes we just forget when making those last-minute stops. It’s safe to say that most of us have both paper and plastic bags stuffed under the sink or in the pantry. The original instructions were on a EcoEtsy page that’s no longer live.

What you’ll need: one brown paper bag, one plastic bag (used as a moisture barrier but is not always needed), sewing machine or needle and thread (sewing will make this more durable during transport), packaging tape, and permanent glue if sewing isn’t an optio.

Step #1: Neatly wrap the item you want to ship in the plastic bag — no need for tape — it’ll stay neatly wrapped in your finished envelope.

Step #2: Cut the paper bag on its seam and lay flat, then place your item on top and start folding. Make the envelope big enough for a little wiggle room plus about a half-inch on each side for stitching. Cut away the excess paper and fold the left and right sides closed.

Step #3: Run a line of machine stitching down each side or stitch by hand. For those completely opposed to sewing, it may be possible to use heavy-duty permanent glue. But we haven’t tested this option, so keep that in mind when shipping (especially if the item you are shipping is heavy).

Step #4: Place the item in the envelope, fold the top flap over, and stitch or use packaging tape to close.

Newspaper Seed Starting Pots

Turn old newspapers into biodegradable seed starting pots that can be planted directly into the garden. This project is perfect for spring gardening, eliminates plastic pot waste, and the newspaper breaks down naturally in soil, feeding beneficial microorganisms. HGTV, Instructables, and Garden Betty all have excellent photo tutorials showing various methods for making these pots.

What you’ll need: Newspaper pages (avoid glossy inserts), a cylindrical mold (like a small can, jar, or shot glass about 3-4 inches tall), water (optional, for easier folding), soil and seeds

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut newspaper strips. Cut newspaper into strips approximately 8-10 inches wide and 12-14 inches long. You’ll need one strip per pot. For smaller pots, you can use narrower strips around a shot glass. Avoid glossy advertising inserts as they may contain more chemicals.

Step 2: Wrap the mold. Place your cylindrical mold horizontally at one end of the newspaper strip, leaving about 2-3 inches of paper extending beyond the bottom of the mold. Roll the newspaper tightly around the mold, overlapping by at least 1 inch.

Step 3: Create the bottom. Fold the excess paper at the bottom up and over the base of the mold, creasing and overlapping the folds to create a closed bottom. Press firmly to create crisp folds. Lightly misting with water can help the paper hold its shape.

Step 4: Set the shape. Slide the mold out carefully, leaving the newspaper pot intact. Press the bottom firmly on a flat surface to ensure it’s secure. The newspaper should hold its shape on its own. You can fold the top edge inward to create a stable rim.

Step 5: Fill and plant. Fill the pot with seed-starting mix, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top. Plant your seeds according to package directions and water gently. Place all pots on a waterproof tray.

Step 6: Plant directly in garden. When seedlings are ready to transplant, plant the entire newspaper pot directly into the ground. Dig a hole deep enough to bury the pot so the rim is below the soil surface—exposed newspaper could wick water away from the plant. The newspaper will decompose naturally, and roots will grow through it easily.

Benefits: Zero plastic waste, better root development (no transplant shock), and the newspaper adds carbon to your soil as it breaks down. You can knock out dozens of these in less than an hour!

Cereal Box Gift Boxes

Transform empty cereal boxes into charming custom gift boxes. This project is perfect year-round for birthdays, holidays, or any gift-giving occasion. The sturdy cardboard creates professional-looking boxes that can be decorated to match any theme. Instructables, Turning the Clock Back, and Crafty Journal all have detailed photo tutorials for different box styles.

What you’ll need: Empty cereal boxes (or similar sized boxes), scissors or craft knife, ruler, pencil, glue stick or double-sided tape, decorative paper (wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or brown kraft paper), ribbon or twine, embellishments (stamps, stickers, washi tape)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the cereal box. Carefully open the cereal box along its existing glued seam to flatten it completely. Remove any plastic liner inside. You can turn it inside out so the brown cardboard shows for a cleaner look.

Step 2: Create your template. Decide on your box size—small (4x4x2 inches), medium (5x5x3 inches), or customize to fit your gift. Draw your box template on the inside of the cereal box using a ruler. The template should include a rectangular base with four side panels and four flaps for the top closure. For a simpler version, just cut off the top flaps and reduce the height of the box by cutting 2-3 inches off the back panel.

Step 3: Cut and score. Cut out your template carefully. Use the back of a butter knife or a bone folder to score along the fold lines—this creates crisp, professional-looking creases. Fold along all scored lines to test the fit.

Step 4: Cover with decorative paper. Before assembling, cover the outside (printed side) of the cereal box with decorative paper using a glue stick or double-sided tape. You can also use washi tape in creative patterns. Smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles. Trim excess paper along the edges.

Step 5: Assemble the box. Fold along your scored lines and use glue or double-sided tape to secure the side edges together, creating a box shape. Leave the top flaps open for now.

Step 6: Add closure and embellishments. Place your gift inside, then close the top flaps. You can tuck them in, glue them down, or punch small holes and thread ribbon through to tie closed. Add final decorative touches like stamps, stickers, gift tags, or washi tape.

Creative ideas: Make multiple uniform boxes for a coordinated gift set, create drawer-style boxes with an inner sliding box, or add a small window cut-out covered with cellophane to show the gift inside. You can also make gift bags by cutting a handle into the top of the box.

Pro tip: One large cereal box can yield 2-3 small gift boxes, making this an economical wrapping solution. These boxes work especially well for clothing and other soft items.

Have Fun!

These six paper projects offer creative ways to reduce waste while creating functional, beautiful items for your home. Each project requires minimal investment and provides maximum satisfaction, proving that sustainable crafting can be both practical and enjoyable.

While recycling paper is important, reusing and repurposing a material reduces your impact even further, reducing the energy and resources needed for recycling processing. These projects align perfectly with the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, then recycle.\

Editor’s note: Originally published on February 22, 2010, this article was updated with new ideas in October 2025.