Ways to Recycle that Old Calendar

Don't you love the beauty of the pictures you see in a calendar? Calendars often have themes which include scenes from beaches around the world, beautiful mountains rising above a crystal clear lake or even a famous landmark, like Niagara Falls. It's difficult to forget some of the images we've seen on calendars. The bad thing about calendars is that they're just no good after the year has gone by. Most people throw them away when they hang the new calendar for the year. Instead of tossing out that old calendar, though, why not use it to make some new things for your home?

Simply cutting a nice picture from a catalog, and putting it in a frame, can make it easy to decorate while recycling an old calendar. There are many more unique things, though, that can be made from the same calendar. Remove the stand from a picture frame or use a frame that has no stand. Place the calendar picture inside the frame then glue legs onto the bottom of the frame. The legs can be wooden beads, painted soda bottle lids, or something else. These are great for holding jewelry, change, hair accessories and more.

Paint a new burner ring gold, mount the picture on the large side of the ring, then hang the picture on a wall. This technique works great for making a porthole-looking decor piece for a bathroom when you use a picture of a lighthouse or other outdoor scene. Instead of using a burner ring you can also use a metal craft ring. The rings are available at most craft stores and are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes. Just glue the picture to the ring and hang on the wall. Use a satin bow or other craft supplies to embellish. If the calendar picture is really small this craft works great for turning the picture into a tree ornament.

Decoupage glue is an adhesive made for attaching paper items to other objects. The adhesive is found at any craft store and can be used to turn calendar pages into many other beautiful things. Cut out the picture and glue it to a lamp, a lampshade, a cabinet door, a headboard, a candle or other surface. Apply the glue to the object, position the picture, then coat the picture with the adhesive. The glue dries clear to produce anything from decorative plates to a new look for your old end table.

While you're recycling calendar pictures why not recycle some old paint can lids while you're at it? Paint the lids then center the cutout picture onto the lid. Make three of these then hang them all on one wide ribbon. Loop the ribbon through a small metal ring then let it hang long. Glue the can lid pictures down the ribbon, spacing them evenly apart. It makes a nice wall hanging that looks good in most any room. Instead of paint can lids do something similar with saw blades. Some people paint pictures on the blades; you can glue yours on. These wall hangings are unique and easy to create.

Small calendar pictures can be used to make cute coasters and more. Cut small pictures into circles and laminate them. Use the laminated picture as a cute coaster when you glue it to a piece of cork. Or, make disposable coasters by laminating a small picture and gluing it to a paper doily. If you don't have a laminating machine simply use clear, adhesive shelf paper. If your calendar picture is large laminate it and use it for a place mat. Laminate other small pictures and use them to make homemade cards for holidays and birthdays.

Laminate the pictures from a catalog, glue the assorted pictures to card stock or thick paper, then make your own kids' book. The pages can be connected by using metal rings and the words can be written with a simple pen or magic marker. The story can be made up by you according to the particular pictures on display in the book. Your child will cherish this book for many years.

Use carbon paper to transfer the calendar images to other objects. Place the carbon paper on a t-shirt, for example, then position the picture on the carbon paper, and trace the objects in the picture. After transferring the basic picture to the shirt you can then fill in areas with paints or paint markers. Or, you can just use the shirt with its carbon paper image. Images can be transferred to cloth, wood, plastic and more.

It's always nice when you can recycle something rather than to throw it in the trash. There are literally millions of calendars which are thrown away every year and that's unnecessary. Use the calendar pages to make new things for your home or gifts for others. You'll be doing your part to reduce landfill garbage as well as doing your part to make the world - and your home - even more beautiful!