It's Earth Day: What will you change? A Few Tips for Crafters...

If you have listened to or read any media today, you know it's Earth Day.  So I thought about how Earth Day relates to rubber stamping & scrapbooking and came up with a few "green" things that I already do and a few that I will be more conscientious about starting today.  Here is my list:

• Save your scraps.  I already do this and have them in hanging files by color.  If I need a small piece, I often go through this drawer before cutting a larger sheet.
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• Recycle your scraps.  When scraps get too small, or you have those 1/2" strips of paper that you'll never do anything with, recycle them!  They can go right in with your junk mail recycling.
• Buy reinkers.  Once you buy an ink pad, you'll never have to throw it out!!  Just buy the reinkers to make your ink pad "like new."  This saves you money too!!!
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• Reuse Stampin' Up! containers.  You know the ones that brads & buttons come in?  Don't throw them out - reuse them!!  Decorate them & use them for jewelry or candy.  Or store household items like nails, screws, bolts, buttons, hair clips, Advil, vitamins, etc. in them.
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• Although we will NEVER admit this to our husbands, there are probably a few pieces of paper or other supplies laying around that we'll never use.  Donate them!!  Preschools, camps, elementary schools, church schools, and sometimes even libraries will gladly accept them!!!
• Recycle your plastic bags.  I've seen more & more places accepting plastic bags lately.  Check your grocery stores for bins.  Here is a link with more info on plastic bag recycling. 

Now here are a few things you can do around your house to save energy while you are crafting:

• Turn off the lights when you are done or even if you just leave the room.  Click here for more info.
• Unplug your appliances (or your cricut, heat gun, and camera charger) when you are not using them.  Click here for more info.
• It is better to turn off your computer at night.  There are some arguments both ways if you set your computer to hibernate or sleep mode, but you can read all about that here.
• Order supplies online.  This reduces the amount of gas you burn back & forth to the craft store.  Chances are you can find better deals online anyway.  If you do need to go to the craft store, incorporate it into another errand.
• Use a Big Shot!!!  It uses (wo)man-power - not electrical power!!!

I'm sure there are many, many more things we can do - these were just a few off the top of my head.  I'd love to hear your comments on what you do now, what you're going to change, and maybe a few new suggestions I didn't mention.

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Comments

[John Sanpietro]

Great tips, Jen!

[Sara Yezefski]

Jen, I love your list! I too use and recycle my scraps! I've also reused that brown paper in the shipment boxes from SU! to cover my table when my son's doing a messy art project!