recycling project no. 6 - junk mail trees



So here they are. Little trees made of junk mail and bristol paper. I used white paper but you can really use any color you choose as long as its a card stock.

Materials:
- Junk mail (I used an ad with greenery in it)
- Bristol paper or any type of card stock (for firmness)
- Spray adhesive
- Xacto
- Cutting surface

I sprayed the bristol paper and the junk mail sheet together before cutting for a nicer finish. I drew my trees trying to keep the tree trunks at a similar width.



Make a cut perpendicular to the base (important!! or your tree will be crooked) on each tree. The cut on one tree trunk goes 3/4 of the way up. The cut on the second tree goes down 1/4 of the tree trunk. The idea is that when you slide them into place the base of both trees must be even. Make sure to erase any pencil marks.



The trees are half white and half junk mail. So if they're turned 180 degrees they can be either the color of the junk mail or the color of the card stock.



Here are the same trees rotated to show the cardstock side. Clean and simple - I love it. The trees range between 2.5 - 6 inches (approx. 6- 15 cm) but you could probably get away with making them bigger.



I hope these instructions are clear enough. If there are any questions just let me know. And if any of you make these I'd love to see. Have fun!

EDIT :: Templates are no longer available for this project.
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27 comments:

  1. sarahAug 2, 2007, 2:30:00 PM

    so many thanks for sharing these! i can't wait to give them a go.

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  2. Debo HoboAug 2, 2007, 3:46:00 PM

    Yet another brilliant project :)

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  3. caseyAug 2, 2007, 4:14:00 PM

    brilliant!!! I'm loving all your recycled projects; they are very inventive and great for getting the ideas flowing for how to recycle all types of "throw aways". keep it up!! :D

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  4. AnonymousAug 2, 2007, 6:01:00 PM

    i think these are soo cute, i'm also really excited for the blueprints to making the polar bear, he's adorable.

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  5. sallyAug 2, 2007, 6:27:00 PM

    These are SO good!!! I'm going to make these with Big J!! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. MeredithAug 2, 2007, 8:59:00 PM

    love the little trees. i can think of lots of little scenes to make with them. my daughter will really like them too, i think. thanks!

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  7. VenusbergAug 3, 2007, 5:35:00 AM

    I spent all of my yesterday thinking how to make them... Damn the cut that i missed! :D Thanks a bunch...

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  8. MefuzaAug 3, 2007, 10:20:00 AM

    thank you for your tutorial. you have very creative ideas.

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  9. GeoAug 3, 2007, 1:45:00 PM

    I think a template would be nice—I am going to a girls's camp next week as assistant camp director, and these might be great fun for the girls to try. (And I will certianly try them too!)

    pogofig at gmail dot com

    Thank you!

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  10. AnonymousAug 3, 2007, 5:52:00 PM

    oooo! I would love a template, thank you very much! I think I will try to make really really small ones and make STICK pins

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  11. SneddoniaAug 3, 2007, 8:00:00 PM

    What a great idea! So junk mail is useful after all ...

    ReplyDelete
  12. LuciAug 16, 2007, 11:54:00 AM

    Oh please, could I have a template e-mailed to me, too?

    lucimama at gmail dot com

    Thanks thanks thanks! Your blog is always such an inspiration to me!

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  13. marianellenAug 19, 2007, 7:24:00 PM

    I have just found your blog after clicking over from Friday Prize's warm mention of you. You are probably sick of emailing, but if you can bare it I would love a tree template: marian.hodgkin [at] gmail.com. I've just started a blog, and if it is OK with you, I will add you as an inspiring link: http://marianellen.typepad.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. marianellenAug 19, 2007, 7:27:00 PM

    Sorry - getting my blogs mixed up: It was 6.5 Stitches who mentioned you as a "8 Things" tagger!

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  15. delightAug 19, 2007, 8:32:00 PM

    Oh my gosh I absolutely love these little recycled trees. What a perfect way to use all that wasted paper junk mail comes in. Very crafty.

    ReplyDelete
  16. JillSep 16, 2007, 4:13:00 PM

    I emailed you separately for the template. I'm planning on using these for my children for the holidays. I thought that for Thanksgiving we could make them into Thankful Trees by adding leaves that we write what we are thankful for and for Christmas we could use them to teach children about the birth of Christ by making a Jesse Tree. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  17. Allyson HillNov 3, 2007, 1:04:00 AM

    I'd love the template too! I found you from whipup.net and am enjoying your recycling projects so much.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Allyson HillNov 3, 2007, 1:17:00 AM

    I tried to e-mail you but it bounced back to me...my e-mail is allysonh@nycap.rr.com I really appreciate this, I couldn't draw the trees as nice : )

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  19. AnonymousNov 11, 2007, 11:45:00 AM

    We are decorating our office for christmas and the theme is trees. We are using junk mail and waste paper. Your idea is lovely and so my room is about to be covered in them! Thanks
    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  20. lissaNov 19, 2007, 7:55:00 AM

    I have always loved silhouettes of trees and yours are wonderful. I have been trying them out...do you use a scissors or a roller to cut them? Is it too late to get a template?
    I am also working on a couple small magazine bowls.
    Love everything you do.

    ReplyDelete
  21. patriciaNov 19, 2007, 8:04:00 AM

    Janet - that sounds like a lovely idea!

    Lissa - I cut everything out with an Xacto blade. I can send you a template if you'd like. Just send me your email address. Thank you for your kind words. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Stephanie BreunerNov 21, 2007, 2:51:00 PM

    i would love the tree template if you still have it available:
    kevstephb@comcast.net

    I really like your silhouette cutouts too! Little Red Riding Hood-so sweet.

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  23. LisaDec 12, 2007, 11:22:00 AM

    I'm new to your blog, but I'd love to give these a try. If it is still available, could you send me the template as well?

    I'm making my niece a dollhouse for Christmas and it could use some landscaping!

    Lisagail524 at comcast dot net

    thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  24. ShayDec 14, 2007, 7:44:00 AM

    May I also trouble you for a template?

    My email is domini_maria@yahoo.com.

    These are amazing! I want to make them with my son and daughter

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  25. KathyAug 31, 2008, 11:40:00 PM

    I would love a template if you are still emailing them out.

    Thanks for the great inspiration!

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  26. craftplaygroundJan 4, 2009, 10:02:00 PM

    Love the idea! I'm going to try this with my kids, but I think I will try using cereal boxes or cracker boxes. This way, no gluing to bristol board, and it's all recycled.

    ReplyDelete
  27. thaFeb 11, 2009, 9:04:00 AM

    thanks for sharing your knowledge for me

    ReplyDelete

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