Giving junk mail a new life

(Photo by Sarah Sturtevant/FreeRangeStock.com)

If you're like me, you average at least one piece of junk mail in a day.

That means that in a year's time, at least 365 pieces of unwanted paper find their way into my home, your home, your neighbor's residence, and so on.

While scrolling through my Google+ feed recently, I saw a basket someone had made using old magazines. The basket was gorgeous and full of colors from the hues of the pages of the magazines.

I don't buy a whole lot of magazines, just a few here and there if something catches my eye as I stand in the checkout line. But seeing the basket got me thinking: Surely there are things I can do with the pile of junk mail I accumulate each week besides just tossing it all into the trash. Overall, I'd rather the mail just not come, but since I don't know of a way to stop it, perhaps I can put it to good use.

So I spent a little time on Pinterest, searching for good ideas for giving new life to junk mail. My favorite Pin links to an article on AlwaysChrysti.com that offers ideas ranging from turning junk mail into beads to making guitar picks and drink coasters.

So many great ideas, especially for this craft lover.

What do you do with your junk mail? Let us know in the comments below.