Stopping junk mail and upcycling into a greeting card

Give junk mail another life and upcycle it into a homemade greeting card! The first step is to eliminate junk mail, second is to upcycle it. According to the USPS 2018 annual report, USPS hauled 77+ billion pieces of junk mail across 1.4 billion miles in the USA.  Companies need to stop with junk mail. It’s an outdated system that isn’t working anymore. It’s a cost to the environment and a cost of money to companies. Here are some tips I’ve used in the past to stop the junk mail. 

1. Permanently opting out from pre-screened offers from consuming reporting companies at optoutprescreen.com. You have to do this for every single person in your household not just for the address. Funny enough you actually have to print out the form and mail it (ironic right!?) The form will also you for your social number but you aren’t required to provide this.
2.  Most mail has tiny wording at the very bottom on how to opt out. Either by calling or emailing them. I have had a majority of luck by emailing. Here is a basic template that is firm, yet nice:
   “Hello, I receive promotional mailings through the postal service and I would like to be taken off your mailing list. <insert you name and address here> I don’t give you permission to use my name or address. Please confirm once completed. The environment and myself thanks you.”

   3. A quick search online (for the mailing you are trying to stop) you can find a toll free number to talk to someone. I have also had good luck with this. 
   4. Double check you are signed up for paperless billing. In addition alot of rewards programs you can log in online and selection a box for ‘so do mail’.

   If you are still getting junk mail and not sure what to do next, don’t throw it away. I’ll show you how you can easily make a pretty no-cost greeting card.

Those junk mail envelopes with the little plastic windows makes the best for cards! First lay your envelope vertically with the open flap to the right side. Cut off the extra flap on the right and then cut the top and bottom. Make to not cut the left spine of the envelope – this is what will keep the card together. Alternatively if you wanted the little plastic box at the top instead of the bottom. Then cut off all sides and just glue a new spine to the right side. 

I then like to arrange my pressed flowers to look like a bouquet in a vase (with the vase being the little plastic window). Once you have your flowers arranged, simply glue them down to the card. Any clear drying glue would work in this situation, mod podge is usually my go to since it’s something I already have on hand.

On the inside of the card I like to write a small greeting on what the card is for, happy birthday, anniversary etc. I like to line the greeting up so it’s visible through the little plastic window.  I recommend doing this with a pencil first, in case you need to erase any mistakes. Then trace with your preferred ink.  You will then have a space inside the card above the little plastic window to write a small personal note. This won’t be visible through the window and will only be seen when the receiver opens the card. 

It’s a simple as that! Your repurposing something that would normally be trash, plus saving yourself some money! Those store bought greeting cards can get pricey, plus they aren’t very customizable. Start saving up those junk mail envelopes when you receive any. 

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