How to Make Recycled Christmas Decorations

One great way to save money during the holidays and save the Earth at the same time is by making decorations and supplies from recycled materials. You can make many incredibly beautiful things from items that you already have. Making things by hand is also a great way to get the kids involved during the holidays.

Christmas Light Ornaments

Each year when you pull out your outdoor lights, you invariably have a few that have burned out. After unscrewing and replacing them, don't just throw them away. They make wonderful ornaments. Wrap wire or foiled string around the base of the bulb so that there is a loop for hanging. Using hot glue, add a special touch to the base of the bulb by gluing on a bow or small bit of foil tinsel garland.

Christmas Card Ornaments

Old Christmas cards can be cut up to make great paper ornaments. Scalloped scissors are handy if you have them. Cut images in different shapes from the front of old cards. For the back, cut something to fit: either another image from a different card, some used wrapping paper, or aluminum foil. You can also just coat the back of the card with glitter. Before gluing the two halves together, make a loop of string or ribbon and glue it to the top of your ornament between the two pieces. For a sparkly touch, glue a border of glitter around the edges of the ornament. Recycle the parts of the card that you do not use.

Recycled Christmas Cards

If you reuse your previous year's cards, you will never have to buy new ones again. Just make sure that you are not sending the card back to the person who sent it to you. To make a card new again, cut a piece of thick paper slightly smaller than the inside of the card. Scalloped scissors will make the edges more interesting. Fold the paper in half and glue it to the inside of the card and you now have a brand new card to write in and send. To create an envelope for your card, simply glue a sheet of paper around your card in the shape of an envelope.

Reuse a Real Tree

Yes, you can reuse a real Christmas tree year after year. Simply set the tree somewhere to dry once you have finished with it. Once the tree is completely dry, the needles will come off easily. Make sure you strip the entire tree of needles. Break off all of the very soft smaller branches.

Next, spray the tree down well with water to remove dust and let it dry completely. Paint the tree with spray paint in the color of your choice. White is lacy and delicate. Red, silver, and gold are also festive colors. The finished tree can be put into storage and used again the next year. It makes a wonderful and festive centerpiece for your home when hung with hundreds of ornaments and lights.

Christmas Card Gift Tags

Make your own gift tags by cutting them from old Christmas cards. Again, scalloped scissors can be put to good use for this craft. Use a hole punch in the top of your gift tag and thread with a loop of ribbon or string. Write the name of the recipient on the back. If you save these, they may be used again year after year.

Recycling Gifts

There is nothing wrong with recycling gifts. We do not always receive exactly what we like after all, and sometimes you get doubles of something or an item that you already own. Save those gifts (along with a note reminding you who sent it to you) in the box with your Christmas supplies and decorations and give them to others the next year. It helps cut down on your Christmas shopping.

Sometimes you might have a gift sitting at home that is used, but perfectly givable. Jewelry is always a nice gift, even if it is not new. Flower vases, handmade items, Christmas ornaments, new clothes with tags still on, books that are in newer shape, vintage cameras, antiques, crystals, gemstones, and heirloom items all make lovely gifts.

Make a set of stationery for someone by gluing pictures cut from magazines onto new pieces of paper and envelopes. I love using photos of flowers, especially roses. They have a very soft and Victorian feel.

Instead of throwing your gift cards away after you use them, get them refilled and give them away or use them as stocking stuffers.

If you crochet, there are numerous patterns on the internet for making reusable shopping bags out of used plastic shopping sacks. Make one for everyone on your list!

Do you know someone who knits? Unravel old or holey sweaters and reclaim the yarn to give to them as a gift. Real wool yarn is especially desirable.

Wrapping Paper

Be sure to save all of the gift bags that you receive over the years and use them to rewrap gifts at Christmas. You can use old clothes and new Christmas cloth to make your own reusable bags for gifts. Sew bags in rectangular shapes of different sizes. Simply place your gift inside, gather the top of the bag and tie with a ribbon.

Silk scarves, shawls, sarongs, handkerchiefs, and bandannas can be used to wrap gifts. Tie like a Japanese bento or secure with ribbon or twine.

Newspaper is one obvious solution, but there is more that you can do with it to make it festive. Once your gift is wrapped in newspaper, stamp the entire surface with red and green acrylic wash paints and a star stamp cut from half of a potato. Let it dry and add a ribbon or bow.

Cigar boxes and cookie tins make unique and functional gift wrap. Simply place the gift inside, close, and tie with ribbon. Other containers and boxes become festive with a simple coat of spray paint.

Cut the front off of an old Christmas Card and glue it to the front of a paper bag or paper lunch sack. Place the gift inside. Fold the top of the bag down once and punch two holes in the folded portion about three or four inches apart. Thread with ribbon to close and tie in a bow. You can also decorate the bag by stamping it the same way as the newspaper wrap above.

Save what wrapping paper you can each year before it gets rumpled or torn. To keep it from getting creased in storage, roll it onto a gift wrap tube. You can roll many pieces of used wrapping paper onto the same tube.

Gift boxes are worth saving as they can be used many times over the years. They often need little more than a ribbon or a bow to make them look nice.

Old Mylar balloons make great reusable gift wrap for small gifts. You can also save old potato chip bags and cut them so that they lay flat. Wipe them clean with a soapy cloth. The silvery plastic inside makes very pretty gift wrap.

Mini Tree Decoration

A pretty centerpiece can be made by cutting the top off of an old Christmas tree. Strip the needles and paint it if you want it a specific color. They are just as lovely unpainted. Place the tree into a piece of clay or florist's foam inside of a flower pot. You can cover the foam with tinsel, cotton batting, or dried moss. Hang small ornaments from the branches.

Ornaments

Recycled ornaments can be made from a surprising number of throw-away items. Try using corks, smooth-cut can lids, spoons, packing peanut garlands, burned-out light bulbs, paper doilies, aluminum foil balls, dried fruit, pinecones, makeup compact mirrors, lace pieces, bits of ribbon, computer chips, old refrigerator magnets, blown eggshells, mismatched earrings, broken jewelry, feathers, buttons, rags, curio knickknacks, family photos, puzzle pieces, beads, stale popcorn, small toys and other unused items.

Candleholders

Make festive candleholders by wrapping thick wire around the mouth of a clean glass jar. Wrap the wire up and over the lid to make a long handle for hanging. Wrap real or recycled decoration greenery around the top of the jar (be careful that it does not go over the mouth of the jar where it can catch fire) and place a candle inside. You can also paint stars and swirls on the glass with silver and gold paint pens.

Punched Can Lanterns

Freeze water inside of clean tin cans. Using a nail and hammer, punch holes into the frozen can to create designs. These lanterns glitter when you place a candle inside.

Christmas Poppers

Toilet tissue tubes can be made into party crackers. Simply fill with small treats and gifts, then wrap with paper or tissue wrap and tie the ends off with ribbon.

Homemade Gifts

When making homemade recipe gifts and bath supplies, use old clean food jars. You can paint the lids or cover them with a piece of glued-on cloth tied with a ribbon. Things like canned cookie recipes, bath salts, and homemade candy look just as good in a used jar as in a new one.

Recycled Bows

Plastic and silk flowers from old arrangements and vintage Christmas decorations make elegant reusable bows that can be saved each year. They are very durable and will not smash if presents get stacked on top of them.

Instead of using plastic ribbons and bows, save or buy real ribbons that can be used again for years. If they become rumpled, simply iron them out. Wrap them around a toilet tissue or paper towel roll for storage.

Tree Gifts

During the winter months, garden centers often have sales on their regular gardening plants and supplies. Save tiny potted evergreens from being discarded. Buy them cheap and wrap a piece of cloth around the base. Put a few small decorations on them and give them as gifts. After the holidays, the recipients can plant them somewhere, either in their yard or at a local park.

Old-Fashioned Rag Bows

Rag bows are easy to make for all ages. Cut old cloth into strips 1-2 inches wide and 5 inches long. Simply tie them to the branches of your tree.