What to do with a junk mail hand bill...

I use to get sad whenever I received a piece of junk mail printed on a beautiful, heavy piece of card stock.  These unsolicited ads for a new dentist, new church, better deal on a cell phone/bundled cable or the best new candidate for the city council stack up.  Thanks to the City of Tulsa these pieces of paper can be recycled.  But tossing them in my blue bin doesn't satisfy my need to make something fun.

Always looking for a creative way to upcycle or refashion an otherwise useless material, this one wins my vote for "best use of a junk mail hand bill."  This project teams up nicely with my need to make stuff.

When my son was in high school, he enjoyed crafting items made from duct tape; wallets, purses, book covers, a book bag, a CD Walkman holder and beautiful roses.  I remember a pair of flip flops, too, which Abram wore just long enough for me to snag a photograph.  I always admired the creativity of these objects made from such a useful and popular material.  Abram was a purist, using duct tape alone to fashion his art.  

When Duct Tape started hitting the shelves in a variety of fun prints and different colors, I could no longer ignore my desire to create something fun and useful, just like Abram did all the years ago.  Here is my 'go to project' for reusing those unwanted handbills.   And if you haven't received any hand bills in your mail box lately, just clean out your filing cabinet and use a file folder.  They have a similar weight and feel.

Cut two pieces from your hand bills or heavier card stock:  One piece measures 4" x 9" and the second piece, 3" x 9".  Cover with duct tape any old which you like.  I don't think I've ever made one the same way twice.  (In some of my earlier wallets, I also made extra compartments to hold credit cards and photos.  My preference is 'simplicity' and just use these upcycled wallets for cash or gift cards.) I use 'extra strong' little self-adhesive magnets to keep these wallets closed...but have utilized ribbon and Velcro in other samples and all work just as well to keep your wallet closed.

Here's hoping that you will never look at junk mail hand bills the same way again.