Old magazines are a great material to craft with. We all have them hanging around so there's no additional expense and you can make all sorts of fun things with them. You can use junk mail and catalogues in exactly the same way too.

I’ve made many things by upcycling old magazines over the years and I’ve found many more ideas to share with you here. Have a browse and then see what fun crafts you could make from your old magazines and junk mail.

1) Upgrade your gift wrapping with these bows from Craft Invaders

2) How to make a gift bag from Life with Crazy Rachel

3) Upcycle a gift box with a cut out from a magazine

4) Babyccino has a tutorial to make simple goody bags

5) A useful woven basket from Craft Invaders

6) Make your own colourful envelopes, An Artful Mom shows you how

7) It’s easy to make a pretty butterfly garland with just a little cutting out and a few folds

8) Christine’s Crafts shares how to make these gorgeous flowers

9) Make pretty floral greeting cards by cutting up magazines and doodling on them

10) Magazine beads from Red Ted Art

11) Coiled Magazine Page Coasters from Saved by Love Creations

12) Word collage art from All Put Together

13) A really simple collage art idea, just pick a colour scheme and start cutting up your old magazines

14) Another tutorial for making paper beads from My French Twist

15) A fun pumpkin decorating idea from Heathered Nest

16) Coil strips of paper to create a lovely lidded bowl, Purple Hues and Me shows you how

17) Another lovely coaster idea, this time woven, from How About Orange

18) A beautiful heart art idea from Elsa R Blog

19) Make the simplest greeting cards with a flower cut from a magazine and a bright coloured card

20) Another lovely gift wrap bow idea, this one from Vikalpah

21) Woven paper stars, there’s a step by step tutorial at Otago Museum

22) Pie n’ the Sky decorated a notebook with triangles cut from magazine adverts etc.

23) Rolled up magazine pages made into lovely picture frames, all the details on Suzy’s Sitcom

24) This mosaic looks so realistic it’s hard to believe it’s made from magazine paper. Details from Kenarry

Bonus project - this sunburst greeting card is made from magazines and junk mail.

Do you like the idea of turning your old magazines and junk mail into something new? A proper waste not want not idea right?

Julie