What Can I Do With All These Magazines???

[NiteNicole]

I have nine hundred bazillion magazines piling up in my house and I'd like to use them for paper mache. I can't find a really clear answer online - does anyone know?

Ok, as paper mache is out, what ELSE can I do with all these things?

[hippiechickinsing]

Sorry, but I don't think you can. I think the sizing in the shiny paper won't bind with the paste to form properly. Maybe you could papier-mache first, then coat with the magazines for decorative effect.

You could decoupage with the glossy pages. Or if there's a pre-school or elementary school near you, they'd probably love to have them for thier projects.

[NiteNicole]

Thanks. I just have PILES of these things and I can't think what to do with them (and none of the usual suspect seem to want them). I guess I need to change the title of this thread to What Can I Do With All These Magazines.

[sunanthem]

I think you could decoupage with them. Look up how to do it and you can get things like little wood or paper boxes at the craft stores and decoupage a collage on them.

[gypsyhips26]

decoupage sounds good and we used to take apart magazines and make envelopes out of them when we were in college & totally broke.....

[NiteNicole]

Thanks!

I'm now scouring etsy and other sites for ideas I can borrow. I am thinking about trying paper mache anyway just in case. If it just does not work then I'm only out a little time on a small project. I REALLY want to do some pumpkins.

[2 in August]

I was thinking about trying some of these ideas because we have tons of mags too.

Recycled purses... http://eco-handbags.ca/catalog/index.php?cPath=119

Coasters... http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/it...y&itemId=14553

Placemats... http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/it...d&itemId=14552

Plant stand! ... http://greenupgrader.com/?s=magazine

Gecko... http://www.eco-artware.com/catalog/C...php?c=tabletop

Treasure boxes... http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/h...e-boxes-028134

Bowls... http://alittlehut.blogspot.com/2007/...zine-bowl.html

General ideas... http://familycrafts.about.com/od/mag...log_Crafts.htm

[lifeguard]

You could donate them. Libraries are sometimes happy to take back issues to replace their worn ones. My Mom owns a laundromat & they are always happy to take old magazines to put out for their customers. They seem to disappear or get wrecked so quickly that it doesn't seem to matter how many she gets she will use them. Some doctors & dentists office will take them as well. Schools, preschools, girl/boy scouts, etc. are often happy to have some for crafts.

[NiteNicole]

Thanks guys! I will check out all these links.

I thought someone might want them (schools, doc office, nursing home...someone) but no one seems interested. It's a REALLY small town so it was easy enough to ask someone I know...hey, you need these at the library? Nope. K.

The library will take all my old books and the nursing home wants old clothes, so at least I've found a drop off for a few things.