In my family, we're perpetually grateful that when the citizens of ancient China sat staring at a reed and wondering what to do--"Eat it? Do our hair with it? Or make paper?"--they went with the latter option. On many a rainy afternoon, when cabin fever has threatened to strike, paper has saved us. We've spread a stack of it out on the table, and folded a bouquet of paper flowers or created a set of paper dolls. We've published a series of little books or woven colorful animal pictures or amazed ourselves with paper magic tricks. In other words, we've come to appreciate just how versatile the stuff is.

Another lucky thing: Paper is nearly everywhere. Those half-used sheets in the recycling bin next to the office copier or the innards of your junk mail are a fine source for at-home projects. A few pages from the receptionist's notepad can enliven a 20-minute wait at the doctor's office. A paper place mat in a restaurant is indispensable when the burgers are running late. If the people at the next table raise their eyebrows, well, consider the alternative: My children can be quite exuberant when forced to sit at length with nothing but sugar packets to play with.

Here, then, are 14 paper projects for your pleasure. We used 8 1/2-by-11-inch copier paper or lined notebook paper for all of them, and confined ourselves to just a pen or pencil, some tape, a pair of scissors, a pin and an X-Acto knife. All of which is to say: Next time you're staring a long, dull afternoon in the face, bring out a pile of paper and have reams of fun.



Lynne Bertrand is a contributing editor to FAMILYFUN.