Recycled Paper Christmas Tree Ornaments

You can actually create some very pretty ornaments this year by using recycled paper to create some stars, Christmas trees, even Ginger Bread ornaments out of some household items. The best thing is that all of your children, regardless of their age can help.

The first step in any good craft project is to gather your materials.

You will want scrap paper of different colors. The more variety, the better. Think of reusing newspapers, magazines, Christmas wrapping paper, construction paper, drawing paper, lined paper and more. Basically any type of paper you can think of that can be reused.

White craft glue
Acrylic paint
Glitter
Large Christmas and Winter cookie cutters
Hot water
A food processor
Cheese cloth or a flour sifter

Step 1: Tear the paper into 1 inch strips, and then tear each strip into 1 inch pieces. Make sure that you use a variety of different textured paper in each batch.

Step 2: Put the paper and hot water into the food processor (with your parent's permission) and then process the paper until it looks like a blob of paper.

Step 3: Allow the paper pulp to drain through the sifter or cheese cloth until you have moist paper pulp. Add the paper back into the food processor with a little bit of glue, and continue to process on a slow speed until well mixed. Clean out the food processor very well when you are finished, or your parents will find little scraps of paper when they are cooking.

Step 4: Shape the paper pulp into the cookie cutter, filling it about 1/3" thick. Allow the paper to set for 5 minutes, and pop it out of the cookie cutter. Set it on some parchment paper or a cooling rack to dry.

Step 5: Using paint and glitter, decorate your ornaments. Using a paper punch, or simply a sharp pencil, poke a hole through the top of your ornament, and tie a loop of ribbon through it.

Step 6: Now explain to your children how much paper is wasted in the world every day, especially around the holidays where people open presents, and discard tons (literally) of paper every day. Show them how they can recycle their Christmas wrapping paper, and store it in a box for a similar project, or even for a paper mache project later in the year.