I try to recycle as much loose leaf paper as I can for making lists and taking notes. Printer paper rejects torn in quarters, notecards and invitations with blank backsides, anything of a decent size that I can add to my various stacks of notepaper around the house is fair game.
But, as much as I pride myself in recycling these scraps, I often end up wasting the waste. Like when I need to jot down a phone number or just a couple of things at the store – not enough to fill the page.
So I’ve decided those scraps are best for when I sit down to make an intentional list or take specific notes, when I know I’ll fill the page up, or get pretty close. For that quick thought on the go, or even the evergrowing grocery list, I’ve adopted this clever system.
It’s simply a roll of adding machine paper from the office supply store, hanging from a ribbon. Not exactly sure who uses an adding machine anymore, but what do I know about accounting! Anyway, I keep my roll of notepaper on the side of my refrigerator, attached to a strong magnetic clip. As I run low on supplies, I add it my list. As my list grows, I pull the paper down a little farther. And when I’m headed out to run errands, I just tear the list off, taking only the paper I actually used. A No. 2 pencil fits perfectly through center of the roll. In fact, I plan to try this, which I just read about last night, for a prettier pencil.
My scratch and tear ribbon roll looks a lot nicer than the mismatched scrap paper stacks I used to keep clipped to the fridge. It’s been a great solution to minimizing clutter in my tiny kitchen! And I can keep the stacks for my office and my nightstand drawers.
NOTE: I got the idea from [updated: March 2009, Better Homes & Gardens] an old magazine I was flipping through in a doctor’s office. They used butcher’s paper and twine to hang in a gardener’s potting shed for mapping out new plantings. I was sure I justified tearing the page out for reference because the issue was so dated, but I can’t seem to find it. If anyone has seen it – the article, not my tear sheet – I’d love to credit the source.
Tags: lists, notepad, paper roll, scrap paper
What a fantastic idea!!! I love this!!!! I may just flatter you by copying it.
Wherever did you get that magnet hook?
Hi LeilaMac,
I’m so glad you like it! I use it every day. The magnet/hook is from Sur la Table. I just tried to find it online but it’s not listed on their website, but I did find a set on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Interdesign-Chrome-Kitchen-Refridgerator-Magentic/dp/B0002VQKV0
I am already flattered! Cheers! Juliet
I actually saw this somewhere within in the past couple months too and love it! Such a great way to make a boring item seem pleasant and adorable.
What a random coincidence … I think I know what magazine you were looking at because I just saw this today! I was flipping through my old stack of BH&G and saw a feature on a potting shed that had a big roll of butcher paper held up by twine and used for notes. It was in the March 2009 issue.
I loved how you translated the idea … very useful!
Robyn – that’s such a coincidence! I’m so glad you solved the mystery. I am long overdue to go through my old magazines. The stacks are growing! Good for you. Juliet
Thanks Juliet! I’m going to order them right now.
Brilliant. Love this idea. I think I need one in every room, as I tend to forget what I was trying to remember by the time I reach my list.
Play twilight zone music here… Last week, my business partner came across a box of adding machine rolls in his storage room – seriously. They were shipped to us by mistake and we had never opened the box, since we got it back in 2004 (according to the packing slip inside the box). We were feeling bad about throwing them out but didn’t know what to do with them. Now we know. How lucky am I to have found your blog when I did? Thanks.
Janice, isn’t it funny how things fall together like that? I could definitely use more than one of these throughout the house so I hope you and business partner have fun putting them to good use. By the way, I honestly do use my kitchen roll every single day. When I originally posted this it was a new system for me, but I can report a few weeks later that it is one of my more practical applications!
[...] Juliet, from UrbanNestblog.com uses a roll of paper from an adding machine to make a really neat hanging note pad. (I do really like this notepad – but I also think that this lends itself to looking like a [...]
I have linked this post into my blog back in March 2010 http://www.nevermindandwhatever.com/2010/03/notes-on-roll.html
The day I saw it I just was wondering what to do with my extra rolls at work and this a perfect idea. It still hangs in my kitchen and it is used almost everyday.