Decking the halls for Christmas doesn’t have to break the bank or harm the environment. The ReCreators, an Auckland-based upcycle collective, is all about mindful making and sustainability. They have shared some fun and creative ideas for turning bits and bobs around the home into festive decorations that the whole family can enjoy.
One simple yet effective Christmas decoration idea is to create string art using materials such as a wooden pallet or timber offcut, sandpaper, stain or paint, a template, scissors, washi or painter’s tape, small nails, yarn or embroidery floss, and glue.
To get started, prepare your piece of timber by sanding it down to achieve a smooth surface. Then, decide on a design for your string art and create a template using scissors and washi or painter’s tape. Once your template is ready, gently hammer small nails into the timber along the outline of your design. After the nails are in place, carefully remove the template.
Next, choose your preferred yarn or embroidery floss in festive colors and begin weaving it around the nails to form your chosen design. You can get creative with different patterns and color combinations. Once you’ve completed the string art, secure the ends of the yarn or floss with a dab of glue. This handmade decoration can be displayed on a wall or propped up on a mantle to add a touch of festive cheer to your home.
Sustainable Christmas Tree Ornaments MATERIALS old magazines or catalogues, scissors, ruler, hot glue gun, twine or ribbon, needle, thread, buttons or beads METHOD STEP 1: Start by choosing colorful pages from old magazines or catalogues. STEP 2: Cut the pages into long, even triangles and fold them in half. STEP 3: Use a hot glue gun to secure the folded triangles into cone shapes. STEP 4: Thread a needle with twine or ribbon and string the cone shapes together with buttons or beads in between.
Another eco-friendly decoration idea is to upcycle old magazines or catalogues into sustainable Christmas tree ornaments. This project requires materials such as old magazines or catalogues, scissors, a ruler, a hot glue gun, twine or ribbon, a needle, and thread, as well as buttons or beads for embellishments.
To make these ornaments, start by choosing colorful pages from the magazines or catalogues and cutting them into long, even triangles. Fold each triangle in half to create a cone shape and use a hot glue gun to secure the folded edges. Once the cones are ready, thread a needle with twine or ribbon and string the cones together, adding buttons or beads in between for extra sparkle. These unique ornaments will add a touch of sustainable style to your Christmas tree.
Sustainable Wreath MATERIALS cardboard, scissors, hot glue gun, old fabric or clothing, pinecones, twine or ribbon, decorative elements like dried flowers or foliage METHOD STEP 1: Draw and cut out a ring shape from cardboard. STEP 2: Cut fabric or old clothing into strips and wrap them around the cardboard ring, securing with hot glue. STEP 3: Attach pinecones, dried flowers, or foliage with twine or ribbon.
Lastly, create a sustainable wreath using materials such as cardboard, scissors, a hot glue gun, old fabric or clothing, pinecones, twine or ribbon, and decorative elements like dried flowers or foliage. To make this wreath, draw and cut out a ring shape from cardboard to serve as the base. Cut old fabric or clothing into strips and wrap them around the cardboard ring, securing them in place with a hot glue gun.
Once the fabric is in place, attach pinecones, dried flowers, or foliage to the wreath using twine or ribbon. This sustainable decoration will look lovely on your front door or as a centerpiece on your holiday table.
In conclusion, with a little creativity and resourcefulness, it’s easy to transform everyday materials into festive, sustainable decorations for Christmas. Whether you opt for string art, upcycled ornaments, or a sustainable wreath, these crafty projects are not only fun to make, but also kind to the planet. So gather your bits and bobs, get the whole family involved, and enjoy decking your halls in an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way this holiday season.
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