Getting creative and making things yourself is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly, but craft supplies can sometimes cause unnecessary plastic waste. As you work through your supply, swap out old items for new ones, like plastic free scissors. Before you know it, you’ll have a total supply of plastic free present wrapping necessities! Here are my best recommendations.
Plastic Free Scissors
As with many things today, prior to the 60s, scissors were not made of plastic. There’s a simple solution: metal scissors. These are naturally plastic free scissors, plus the metal provides a nice weight that keeps your hand steady while you’re cutting. This pair is an excellent option with great reviews. If you’re looking for a very stylish pair that looks great on any desk, you might like this pair in black or pretty bird shaped embroidery scissors.
Plastic Free Tape
Tape typically contains plastic, but there’s an easy remedy to this issue. Switch to a craft tape like this one, which includes a natural rubber adhesive and craft paper. It’s completely recyclable and super durable.
Plastic Free Ribbon
Another easy swap is choosing to go from plastic ribbon to coloured paper ribbon or cloth ribbon. It’s great to save any ribbon you might encounter, whether from gifts or product packaging, to reuse later. You can even repurpose the straps from old tank tops into ribbon, or do the same with unused shoelaces.
You can, of course, also buy more eco-friendly ribbon, like paper ribbon from Wrappilly. It’s made from recycled paper and is shapeable, versatile, and recyclable. Twine is another great ribbon alternative for sprucing up gifts or hanging crafts.
Paper and Additional Supplies
Fancy papers and decorations that you find in craft stores can often be plastic. Instead of purchasing these products, try thinking outside the box and saving items that might be useful for future projects. Newspapers and magazines are a great place to start.
Did you buy something that came in a great box or with an interesting decoration attached? Save it. Did someone bring cake to work with a decorative topper that’s going in the trash? Save it! Perhaps your book club, church group, or networking group has bins of old party supplies that sit unused – see if you can take anything useful (with permission, of course!)
Look at nature for items you can use, as well. Try preserving pretty flowers and leaves – you can find a useful guide here. Twigs, pinecones, dried fruit, and acorns are also great for crafting!
Although it can be a challenge at first, you’ll soon find that you’re surrounded by items that could be used for various crafty projects. You may even find that hunting for inventive craft items is inspiring and fun. Choosing to use creatively-sourced items, plastic free scissors, and craft paper tape might seem like a small choice, but it all adds up to a much bigger impact!
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful! As always, you can support me and the site by buying me a cup of tea or sharing the site with a friend. Your support means the world to me!
