It’s that time of year again when you get home after a long day and stub your toe on a bright yellow brick tossed half-heartedly on your doorstep. Phone books are definitely going the way of the dinosaurs, but it seems like we still might have to put up with them for a few more years. In the meantime, if you want to do more than just toss your phone book into the recycling bin, consider some of these fun upcycling options:

• Save for the cooler days and use pages as a fire starter
• Use to ship items by balling up the paper for cushioning
• Use to press late summer flowers and fall leaves
• Use for a paper mache project
• Compost or use as garden mulch
• Pulp and use for making your own paper (see the “how to” here)
• Make super cheap and effective cat litter (see the “how to” here)