Finding Friday- 14 GREAT Reasons YOU Need Craft Paper

It’s Friday friends! So glad we made are way here today..Are you a brown craft paper fan? Our family has been for a long time. We have kept a LARGE roll of brown craft paper in our stash for many years. This week that brown craft paper came in handy while we were planning to move dining room botanicals to a new location…and boy, is it worth it’s price for this project.

When I pulled the brown paper out to use for my pressed ferns, my husband said…”you know, that roll of brown craft paper is worthy of a post all of its own”…why hadn’t I thought of that?

We love to support our local businesses and purchased a huge roll locally; but, I’ll attach a link to make it easy for you to order in case you can’t find the paper locally.

So, here’s to at LEAST 14 Great Reasons that YOU need a Roll of Brown Craft Paper in your home.

Hang on! This may be a bit long…but, stay with me til the end! I promise it’s worth it!

Here’s a few ways that I use it.

1- Gift Wrap

Gift wrapping is one of my ALL TIME favorite past times. I know. Many of you are shaking your head and staring at disbelief. If you are one of those who have the gift always wrapped at the store or dropped into a bag, I get you. I’ve done that, too.

But a BEAUTIFUL gift –wrapped with love– can be GORGEOUS using brown craft paper. I often stamp or stencil that paper to give it a bit more glamour; but, more often than not, the ribbon is the star of the show on that craft paper wrapped gift. I also love a great black and white photo or image printed on card stock that speaks to receiver of the gift. Just puts this craft paper into the amazing category!

I realize this is from Christmas…but, that brown paper is great for any occasion…trust me!

2-Craft Projects

This brown craft paper is the staple in my craft room or outside for projects. It may simply cover an area while I paint or use spray adhesive. When I make a wreath or use a glue gun, it the perfect protector.

Even when I made these sweet pine cone trees, that brown paper came in handy to protect the table.

It’s perfect when I am working with harvesting zinnia or chive seeds.

It was the perfect solution for using on that ironing board to protect it from wax from the wax paper when I was pressing ferns. I simply can’t do without it for every reason.

4-Kids Artwork

There are lots of littles who always love to unroll the craft paper for murals or coloring or painting projects. Always available and ready to roll out for their enjoyment.

5-Brown Craft Paper Templates

Brown paper always makes the BEST templates. We have used it to make a template for glass tops for some nightstand chests.

We have also laid brown paper out the size of furniture to see if the size and positioning worked in the room.

6-Painting

Brown craft paper has even been found behind picket fencing to catch overspray paint from going through while spray painting. You simply toss it out when finished! Makes life much easier for so many painting projects.

7-Home Remodeling

House remodeling projects have made good use of that brown craft paper, too. From covering floors for painting projects or counters when tiling or protecting from sheetrock mud or dust– it just simply works!

8-Framing

At one time we owned a photography studio and framed portraits. The backing on all of those frames was–you guessed it!–brown craft paper.

We still frame different pieces of artwork and photographs to hang in our home, so– craft paper has to be available for that at a moment’s notice.

9-Husband Uses

Now, my husband does all of the framing mentioned above; but, he uses copious amounts of that brown craft paper for so many of his work and projects in the garage.

He solders on them.

He uses them to protect surfaces. All kinds of glue and epoxy have required it’s use.

10-Hanging Groupings

That’s where today’s project takes me. Hanging prints always requires brown craft paper.

• Simply measure that wall where you want to hang a grouping of framed prints.
• Begin by measuring out brown craft paper (tape together if needed) the size of that wall area to be covered.
• Lay those items that you want to hang together on the floor onto the brown craft paper.

• Next, get the placement perfect and mark where the nails need to be for each. A level or laser level is also a great help on making sure that alignment is right.
• Remove frames and items to be hung from the paper.
• Use painter’s tape to tape the paper to the wall, making sure it’s taped level, and then place nails where you have marked for hangers.
• Then, just remove brown craft paper from the wall and hang your frames and/or other items for your grouping onto the nails.

It’s the easiest way EVER to hang groupings!

11-Weed Barrier

Yep! You heard that right! In the spring when I want to add plants along a fence line, I simply roll out that brown craft paper over the ground the length and width that I want that bed to be.

Add mulch over the top and then cut holes through the paper where you want to drop in plants.

The craft paper decomposes over the summer, allows water to go through, and prevents weeds from growing through the paper. Since we mulch every year anyway, this was genius when a friend shared with me his method.

Perfect timing as I am preparing my garden beds for spring.

Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!

12- Table Runners

I can’t tell you the number of times that the roll of brown craft paper has been unrolled across a table on the screened porch, outdoor tables, picnic table or even dining room tables.

It makes a perfect table runner that allows for a seasonal feel for fall or Christmas or even Easter coming up soon.

All the events in your life could use a brown craft paper runner–from garden parties, graduation celebrations, birthdays, picnics and gatherings.

13-Food Serving

It’s a perfect canvas across the island to identify food being served for gatherings.

My friend, Tammy, at White Lilac Farmhouse, reminded me of this one. She’s a Maryland friend and when they have a crab broil or bake, the tables are covered with brown craft paper before those crabs are served directly on top for hands on eating.

We experienced that at a restaurant in Maryland when we there. Such a perfect way to serve and makes for easy clean up.

14-Grill Starter

We always use a charcoal chimney when grilling. You have to have paper in the bottom of the chimney to light the charcoal before adding them to the grill.

Since newspapers are all online for our household now, that brown craft paper is used regularly as a fire starter for the grill.

TIP: Now when you need to buy that roll of craft paper for every great use under the sun, let me recommend to you that you not get the waxed version. My first large roll evidently was heavier and had a wax coating on it that made it impossible to gift wrap and use easily.

For me, a version that is not coated is preferred.

Here’s what I have found online if you don’t have a local business to assist.

Well, that’s just for starters, friends! What do YOU use brown craft paper for in your home????

I’d love to add it to my list!

Finding Friday Update

Another drum roll is needed this week!

As the sun set LAST Friday, FOUR things got checked off our list for the fire restoration repairs. You heard me!

• SIDING IS FINISHED!
• BLACK GUTTERS ARE INSTALLED!
• FLOORING TRANSITIONS ARRIVED AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETED!
• NEW BOARDS ON THE DECK HAVE REPLACED BURNED ONES!

Yep! That was in all caps for the excitement I am feeling over here! Exclamation points required!

Just a few things remaining on the very long list of things required for this reconstruction.

And this week the electrician reinstalled all of the outdoor lighting and gave the electrical the stamp of approval.

Thanks for joining me on this journey…if you are new to the blog…you can back up and find out about our restoration progress after a house fire:

• we began here,
• continued our update here,
• began kitchen organization here,
• gave some great painting tips here,
• refinished the dining room table here and
• gave you a view of some of the decor plan here. Whew!

Week 12 of restoration has ended this week.

Family members will actually gather here and have their feet under my table this weekend.

Hope your weekend is filled with inspiration of spring, gathering with family and friends and new memories created!

Happy Weekend, friends!