Paper is a main staple of offices and schools. Aspiring to go paperless is a mighty, and also difficult goal of green businesses.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average office worker in the U.S. uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. That’s four million tons of copy paper used annually, or 96 trees. This adds up quickly.

The green movement has nudged paper consumption downward. According to this New York Times article “After rising steadily in the 1980s and 90s, worldwide paper consumption per capita has plateaued in recent years. In the richest countries, consumption fell 6 percent, from 531 to 502 pounds a person.”

What is a person who likes to write on paper to do? This Care2 article highlights some tips to help choose the most environmentally friendly papers. The Green Office provides paper products for the office. They claim, “The human and ecological health are the sole byproducts of operation. To this end we help consumers align values with action by providing a full selection of sustainable office products at great prices.”

I’m a note-taker and I love to write in beautiful 100% post-consumer recycled paper (no trees!) notebooks. In my office, there is a basket under the desk for paper that has a blank side so it can be reused. I compile this paper onto clipboards for notes. Bills to pay, important letters and even interior design ideas find their ways onto my clipboards.

This DIY project, inspired by these clipboards uses decorative papers to jazz up a basic clipboard.

What you need:

Clipboard–I used a letter size clipboard. These cost less than a buck.

Decorative paper–card stock or leftover wallpaper or eco-friendly wall covering samples.

Glue–I used Mod Podge Paper. Any non-toxic paper glue would work.

Pencil

Paintbrush–approximately 3/4 inch wide.

Piece of scrap paper

Twist tie

What to do:

For Paper Covered clipboard:

1. With the twist-tie, secure the clamp open.

2. Make a template with the scrap paper. Trace the shape of the board. Make a notch for the clamp.

3. Trace the template on the back of the decorative paper and cut out.

4. Brush an even layer of glue onto paper.

5. Glue the decorative paper onto the clipboard and smooth.

For Pocket Clipboard

1. Measure paper (I used natural reed and bamboo wallpaper samples from a discontinued book) to approximately the center of the clipboard and cut.

2. On the back side of the paper, glue around the edges leaving the straight top open.

3. Secure onto clipboard.

Ronnie Citron-Fink lives in New York with her husband, two children (when they come home to the nest), two dogs and a cat. Ronnie is a teacher and a writer. She has been a contributing writer for Family Fun magazine. She currently writes articles about education and home design. Her writings are in four books including Family Fun Home and Some Delights of the Hudson Valley.

EcoNesting