If you’ve ever paused before tossing out a piece of paper thinking “this could be useful”—you’re not alone. Collage artists and creative stashers know the joy of discovering the perfect scrap exactly when they need it.

Here are 12 humble bits of paper worth saving—each one full of unexpected potential.

12 Papers You Shouldn’t Throw Out:

1. Brown paper bags  |  Soft, textured, earthy—layer it under almost anything.
2. Security envelopes  |  Open them up and you’ll find graphic patterns perfect for background texture or layering.
3. Old book pages  |  Aged type, yellowed edges, and literary energy all wrapped into one.
4. Receipts  |  Layer them with gesso, scribble over them, or let the thermal print fade to ghostly lines.
5. Junk mail with bold graphics  |  Cut it, layer it, collage it—turn throwaways into treasure.
6. Tea bag wrappers  |  Perfect little squares for colour, shape, or repetition.
7. Wrapping paper scraps  |  Especially the bits too small to use for gifts—collage gold.
8. Magazine clippings  |  Glossy paper, headlines, textures, and vibrant tones.
9. Used postage stamps  |  Tiny stories, bold design, and vintage charm in miniature form.
10. Paper placemats or menus  |  Real-life texture and quirky typography. Spills and all.
11. Sewing pattern paper  |  Delicate and see-through, with those iconic dashed lines and typography.
12. Maps + atlas pages  |  Old maps offer lines, grids, faded blues—and a sense of story and place.

What other papers do you tend to keep and reuse? Drop a comment with your ideas!

Would you love a little guidance? If you are in Ottawa, I offer a Collage Confidence workshop. If you aren’t in Ottawa, send me a note and we can chat about setting up an online workshop for you!