Office Supplies that Become Free Arts and Crafts Supplies

1. Brads

Brads are used by screenwriters and others to hold pieces of paper together. Brads can be used to combine two or more pieces of paper together for any arts and crafts projects.

Think of a paper craft idea that involves adding clock hands, or other moving paper object to another piece of paper.

2. Fancy or Colored Paperclips

Fancy or colored paperclips are one office supply item that can be used to keep paper crafts together without the use of glue.

This office supply should only be used by older children, who are not likely to put the paper clips in their mouths.

Colored paperclips or paperclips in interesting shapes, like spirals can be used as they are, kept in their original shape to enhance arts and crafts.

Or, untwist the paperclips and find new shapes for these office supplies when you use them in arts and crafts.

3. Rubber Bands

Rubber bands are another office supply that can be used in arts and crafts. Rubber bands can be used as an alternative to glue or other methods of tying arts and crafts materials together.

Stretched out rubber bands can be written on to hide "secret" messages.

Using a lot of rubber bands can also add a rubbery texture to arts and crafts. Or use this office supply to attache different items in arts and crafts.

4. Scotch Tape

Scotch tape is another office supply that can also become a toy all on its own. Cut off pieces of scotch tape for small children, because tape dispensers can be sharp.

Scotch tape is a less messy way than glue to attach different pieces of paper to each other.

5. Binder Clips

Colored binder clips or small black binder clips are another popular office supply that can be incorporated into arts and crafts. A binder clip can become body and legs of a small arts and crafts animal.

Or, use binder clips as one way to bind paper into small flip books.

6.Post-It Notes

Post-it notes are a favorite office supply for adults and for kids. Kids like to draw on them and stick them everywhere.

Use this office supply to create small peek-a-boo books. Let the child draw a small item under the Post-it.

7. Flags

Similar to Post-its, colored sticky flags are another office supply that can serve double duty in arts and crafts. At the very least, kids will have fun sticking the colorful flags onto their latest paper crafts.