Everywhere you look, the focus is on going green. With this growing awareness on the environment and sustainability, Angie White, brand manager of Wausau Paper’s Creative Collection brand, shares some certifications and tips that can help you be a bit more eco-conscious when scrapbooking. Happy Earth Day!

•    Look for these two notable certifications when choosing paper: Green Seal and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Green Seal is a product certification that recognizes paper that has at least 30 percent recycled post-consumer fiber, while FSC certification recognizes products that support the responsible management of the world’s forests and forest resources. These two certifications require products to pass a strict application process.

•    Take a buyer-beware approach when purchasing recycled content paper. While many papers have been labeled as recycled, the way this claim is made may be misleading. The recycled nature of the product can come in two different forms: recycled content from scrap on the manufacturing floor (often called pre-consumer waste) and post-consumer recycled content. Think of it this way: The recycled content from scrap is a lot like using the paper that’s fallen on the floor, thus becoming leftovers. Post-consumer content is like using the same material from previous projects that have already served their purpose and are at the end of their life cycle. While it may not be logical to reuse prior project material since the purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve memories, it’s a simple analogy to help demonstrate the definitions of these labels.  

•    Save leftover fabric, paper scraps or photos and use them to embellish your scrapbook pages.

•    Create smaller-scale accents by cutting out flowers and other designs from scraps. Use fabric to enhance the texture of your pages.

•    Search your house for miscellaneous items to highlight your creativity. For example, old postage stamps can be used as a border to illustrate a recent trip, while a three-hole punch can create interesting designs to any edging.  

•    Consider digital or hybrid scrapbooking.


Whatever you do, take time to appreciate nature today!

chasing arrows
by Katrina Simeck, Master ‘07
Colchester, Vermont

Text: It’s no secret that I love arrows. I use them frequently in my scrapbook layouts. But this symbol isn’t just about the shape. It’s a symbol that has become as much a part of our everyday life as the stop sign or crosswalk sign. Such a simple thing. Check for the chasing arrows … If you find it, toss the glass/bottle/box into the blue bin instead of the trash. From the recycling bins outside to the recycled paper bin in my scraproom, we all do our part.