The paper shredder sitting in your office is good for more than just making your personal paperwork unreadable. Use it to turn sheets of colorful patterned paper into material to design eye-catching ornaments, crafts for kids and home decor projects.
Instructions
1. Gather cardstock, patterned paper, wrapping paper or magazine advertisements in a variety of colors and textures. Run pieces through a paper shredder to create narrow strips or diamond-shaped pieces, depending on the machine you own. For a crumpled effect, allow the collection basket to overfill or simply crush the pieces by hand.
2. Give the paper to your kids to create dimensional artwork. Trace shapes like flowers, animals or holiday motifs and designs onto large pieces of cardstock or tagboard. Let them "paint" the surface with a thin layer of glue and sprinkle shredded paper onto the surface. Press it down lightly and allow the paper to dry completely.
3. Design vibrant Christmas tree decorations as the holiday approaches. Stuff shredded paper into clear acrylic ball ornaments to coordinate them with your festive color scheme. Feed red or green cardstock through the shredder or use silver and gold wrapping paper or pretty translucent vellum. (See Resources.)
4. Create backgrounds for scrapbook layouts and handmade greeting cards by spraying the surface with adhesive or applying double-sided adhesive to the desired areas. Add the shredded paper, allowing the pieces to overlap slightly for added texture.
5. Add add color and texture with shredded paper to projects around the house. Use strands that complement your room decor as filler in clear vases that hold artificial plants or flowers. Sprinkle it around your table centerpiece or use it as confetti during parties. Pour it into bags to surround gifts as a change from tissue paper.
