Second Life Series, Part 1: 5 Smart Ways to Upcycle Old Glossy Magazines

Do you have stacks of brightly colored magazines piling up, begging you to toss them? Before you get that glossy pile shipped off for recycling (which is also a good idea), consider the unique properties of magazine paper—its thickness, weight, and vivid color—and give it a creative second life.

This is the initial of our "Second Life Series" wherein we'll be talking about ingenious ways to reverse specific household waste into functional, money-saving and stunning things. Let's start with the robust, printed colored sheet of old magazines and discover five inventive methods to use their personal character to your advantage.

1. Unique DIY Gift Packages and Envelopes

Magazine covers and vibrant color interior pages are great to use to make a one of a kind packaging that stands out.

The Reuse: Instead of buying gift bags or wrapping paper for small items, use the sturdiest pages to create your own personal envelopes or small gift bags. The cover paper is often thick enough to provide good support. Use the lightest strips of paper to create unique paper bows or ribbons.

Why it Works: Magazine paper weight and durability aren't available in basic printer paper, making it ideal for building and folding. High-gloss professional photos and graphics give an instant, upscale design effect.

Benefit: Save money on commercial gift bags and wrap, and give your gifts a personalized, bold, and memorable finish.

2. Homemade decorative Coasters

Protect your tabletops and recycle garbage into tabletop treasure.

The Reuse: Cut magazine pages into equal-sized squares or circles. Use a plain craft adhesive (such as Mod Podge) to layer the paper into solid, hardy coaster shapes. Let it dry and then cover the whole coaster in a final coat of Mod Podge or shellac to make it water-resistant.

Why it Works: The papers are layered to create a dense base. The shiny seal protects the paper against heat and condensation and turns it into a usable home decor. You can choose pages of corresponding color to create a set.

Benefit: Avoid buying new coasters and recycle some old magazines to create a strong, aesthetically pleasing, and customized home item.

3. Make Custom Closet Dividers

Finished with digging out mountains of shirts? Magazine pages can organize your drawers and shelves.

The Reuse: Find magazine covers or pages with large, solid blocks of color. Cut thin, rigid divider boards the size of your drawers or shelves using these pages. Place the boards vertically between stacks of piled garments (like shirts or leggings) to separate piles and prevent them from toppling over.

Why it Works: The texture of the shiny paper keeps clothes from sliding sideways, enabling you to see everything you've got at a glance without reaching in.

Benefit: Eliminate time spent folding and sorting, and expand the perceived storage capacity of your closets and drawers without breaking the bank on expensive plastic dividers.

4. Use as Stencils for Fast Crafts

Magazine lettering and photographs are usually printed sharply and are excellent templates to work with when making small projects.

The Reuse: Carefully cut out of magazine pages with scissors or a craft knife, clean bold lettering or plain silhouette shapes. These cut-outs may then be used as one time use stencils for quick paint jobs, drawing lines on wood or fabric, or to create vinyl sticker templates.

Why it Works: The smooth, flat surface of the magazine makes it easy for you to cut clean, sharp lines, and you have free, intricately detailed stencils at your fingertips.

Benefit: Time and money are saved on purchasing tiny, individual stencils that you may only use once for lettering or plain decorative pieces for quick do-it-yourself work.

5. Essential Drawer Liners

Protect your furniture and add a fresh look to neglected drawer space.

The Reuse: Cut whole magazine pages (or parts of them) to line the bottom of your kitchen drawer, bathroom vanity, or office storage containers.

Why it Works: Magazine paper is much more durable to wear and moisture than shelf paper or newspaper. It creates a covering shield that holds dust, crumbs, and spills in. When the liner gets dirty, you simply pull it out and place in a new magazine page.

Benefit: It keeps your bathroom and kitchen drawers tidy, prevents your furniture from wear and tear, and gives a pop of color to dull areas for zero cost.

What's one of these brilliant magazine hacks you'll be trying first in an effort to give new life to your outdated magazines? Stay tuned for our next installment of our "Second Life Series" where we profile upcycling another common household item!