Don't Throw Away Your Tissue Boxes - Recycle Them

Have you noticed all the pretty designs on tissue boxes in the stores these days? I have and some of those printed beauties I just can't bear to throw away. And we don't need to be adding something so pretty to a landfill. So I reuse them in this way. I cut them up and make ATC's or tags or even gift cards from the old boxes. Here's how I do it.

Step 1: Open Up the Box

Open up the box at the glued end so it is now laying flat. It should look like the picture.

Step 2: Remove Logo Area.

Cut off the ends where it was glued together because you won't be using that.
Remove any part with a Company logo unless you can think of a way to use that too. I just don't bother with logos because I think the company gets enough publicity. If I could find a way to use it in an artful manner that would be another thing. You can save any plain white area if you wish to use also.

Step 3: Cut Along Fold Lines of the Box

Then I just cut along all the fold lines and remove any plastic that may be attached.
Now you have several pieces to work with.

Step 4: Your Pieces to Work With

You can take the largest pieces and cut cards to use for making ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) or small journals or note books out of them. You can get about 7 ATC size cards from one tissue box! I am talking about the large boxes here not the little ones.

Step 5: Many Different Colors and Patterns

There are so many different colored boxes and pretty patterns found now in the stores. Save them up and do many in one sitting.

Step 6: Cut and Punch Away

Use the smaller pieces to punch out tiny tags or other embellishments for your crafty goodies. Kelsey at Vanilla Joy showed us some great punches this week here. Add them to your scrapbook supplies or card making supplies. Or make tiny gift tags by adding a ribbon to tie to a gift or make a bookmark and then add your own embellishments. Just punch a hole at the top of your tiny tag or bookmark and add a pretty ribbon. This tiny tag punch shown here is the only punch we have and it belongs to my daughter. I borrowed it to make these. I am so jealous of her and Kelsey at Vanilla Joy because I don't have any yet, but someday. Ahhh. Sorry just dreaming there for a second.

Step 7: Sizes

The card sizes for ATC's are @ 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". I managed to cut 7 out of one tissue box!
The tiny tag punch gives you tags that measure 1" x 1 3/4" and I managed to get 24 tiny tags and 1 bookmark all from the same tissue box!

Step 8: Not All the Same

Not all boxes measure the same, so don't think if you don't come up with the same cuts that I did that you did something wrong. I'm sure you did fine. Have fun with it. Use different shape punches - flowers, hearts, stars, and add what ever embellishments you want. Enjoy

Just Don't Throw Them Away!