If you’re a crafter, you know the struggle: a growing pile of beautiful paper scraps. They’re too precious to toss but too small for your next big project. Instead of letting them gather dust, why not give them a second life in your garden?
Suitable paper scraps can serve practical and decorative purposes, from contributing to compost and sheet mulching to adding handmade touches to your outdoor space.
Here are some creative and practical ways to put those colorful paper scraps to work among your plants and flowers.
Paper Mâché Planters and Garden Sculptures
Turn paper scraps into decorative garden art with paper mâché. With proper preparation and a moisture-resistant sealant, these creations can work well in sheltered outdoor spaces, adding a personal touch to patios and garden beds.
Make the paste by mixing one part flour with two parts water until smooth. Tear paper scraps into strips about one inch wide.
Dip each strip into the paste, remove excess, and layer them over a mold, overlapping the strips as you go. Use an inflated balloon or a plastic-wrapped pot as a simple form for ornamental containers.
Add several layers for strength, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding another. Once completely dry and firm, remove the mold. If using it as a decorative plant container, keep the plant in a separate waterproof pot with proper drainage.
For outdoor display, apply a sealant labeled as suitable for the material and intended environment, following the manufacturer’s application instructions. Paper mâché is not permanently waterproof, so keep finished pieces in sheltered areas.
Composting Paper for Healthier Soil
One of the best ways to recycle paper scraps is by adding them to your compost pile. Paper is a carbon-rich “brown” material.
This is essential for balancing the nitrogen-rich “green” materials like grass clippings and vegetable peels. For more ideas, explore these creative ways to recycle shredded paper around the home and garden.
Before you start, check what paper products to compost. The EPA recommends shredded, non-glossy, uncolored paper and shredded cardboard without wax, tape, or glue for backyard composting. Avoid glossy paper and paper with non-compostable coatings.
To speed up the process, shred or tear your paper scraps into small pieces. This increases the surface area and helps the microorganisms in your compost pile get to work faster.
For composting at home, the EPA recommends adding at least two to three times the volume of brown materials, such as dry leaves and shredded paper, compared with green materials such as food scraps.
When you add a bucket of kitchen scraps to your pile, add two or three buckets of shredded paper, dried leaves, or sawdust.
Mix it all together to aerate the pile and distribute moisture. With the right balance of materials, moisture, and air, a well-maintained compost pile can produce dark, crumbly compost in several months.
Decorative Paper Banners for Outdoor Spaces
Add a festive touch to your garden, patio, or balcony with handmade paper banners. Use colorful scraps to create temporary decorations for parties, special occasions, or seasonal displays.
Choose a theme or color palette, then cut the paper into triangles, circles, squares, leaves, flowers, or other shapes.
Mix different patterns and textures for added interest. Punch holes in each piece and thread them onto twine, or fold the top edge over the string and secure it with glue.
Untreated paper banners are best for temporary use or sheltered areas. For limited moisture exposure, laminate the pieces or apply a clear protective coating suitable for the paper. Hang the finished banner between trees, along a fence, or over a doorway for a colorful outdoor display.
Crafting Garden Labels from Recycled Paper
Never forget which seedling is which again with custom garden labels made from your leftover cardstock. Paper and water don’t usually mix, but a little preparation can turn sturdy paper scraps into attractive plant markers that are better protected from moisture. This is a useful way to use smaller, thicker paper scraps that might otherwise go unused.
Start with heavy cardstock for the best results. Cut the paper into your desired tag shape. A simple rectangle or a more decorative tag design both work well. Use a permanent, waterproof marker to write the name of the plant on the tag.
You can also add other useful information, like the date planted or specific care instructions. The key to making these labels last is lamination. If you have a thermal laminator, run the tags through it to create a sealed surface that helps protect the paper from moisture.
If not, you can make a DIY version by carefully covering both sides of the tag with clear packing tape. Make sure to leave a sealed border around the edges.
Once your tags are sealed and protected from moisture, you can attach them to your plants. Punch a hole in the top and use twine to tie it loosely to a nearby stake.
You can also glue the laminated tag to a popsicle stick, a bamboo skewer, or a small twig to create a marker that can be pushed directly into the soil. It gives otherwise unused paper scraps a practical purpose in the garden.
You can also experiment with different shapes and designs to make each garden label fit your outdoor space. If you’d like to sketch your ideas before cutting the paper, you can use Chrome Canvas to experiment with simple garden label designs.
Preparing Your Outdoor Canvas for Creativity
Before putting paper scraps to work in your garden, start with a clean, clear space. Remove fallen leaves, weeds, and loose debris from garden beds, pathways, and patios so you can see where your paper-based projects or sheet-mulching layers will go.
For larger patios, paths, or garden areas, a battery powered leaf blower can help clear leaves and lightweight debris quickly, leaving a cleaner workspace for your gardening and paper-based projects.
Once the beds are clear, use paper or cardboard for sheet mulching, also known as “lasagna gardening.” Layer overlapping sheets directly over the soil to block light and suppress weeds. Wet the paper to hold it in place and help it begin breaking down.
Build your layers with green materials such as grass clippings and brown materials such as shredded leaves. Shredded paper can also be incorporated into this process.
Finish with a thick layer of compost or mulch. Over time, the materials break down and add organic matter to the soil.
Keeping the garden clear before and after these projects makes it easier to maintain the space and put paper scraps to practical use.
Instead of throwing suitable scraps away, consider how they could serve a purpose outdoors. They can become decorations, plant markers, compost materials, or useful layers for garden projects.
