How to turn Christmas green with crafts
Time is on our side so far this year — it’s just Dec. 5, time to plan out fun activities for the holiday season. I would be absolutely remiss to not encourage all of you crafty folks to make some of your own Christmas decorations.
If you inquire on the internet and ask “what Christmas decorations can I make with recyclables” you will be blown away with the amazing and clever things you could do with a paper towel roll, plastic two-liter soda bottles, lightbulbs and magazines.
This is not to suggest that one could possibly create all of the holiday cheerfulness from your recyclables, but it does warm your heart to experience the concept of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
I remember as a kid making Christmas trees from Readers Digest magazines. They were just the right size to make two triangular folds per page, and when folded back on the binding, created the perfect tree shape. Green spray paint and some glitter transformed this monthly periodical into a Christmas decoration that would be Hobby Lobby worthy!
With a quick look at the internet, you can create the cutest snow people from two-liter bottles or Christmas trees using green two-liter bottles. It takes a little paint and an X-acto knife to create these crafts. If you have mason jars, red tissue paper, glue and a pop top from a soda can plus a black ribbon, you can fashion a Santa candle jar (see “Mom vs the Boys” website for the Santa Candle Craft). So many cute ideas for that crafty one!
The Recycling Partnership offers 10 tips for recycling and combined with EcoEnclose suggestions, I’m sure these will resonate with you, making your holidays sustainable and green.
Gifting: remember, less is more, and giving an experience may be more memorable than a tie or T-shirt. Homemade food gifts are usually well received. Consider soups or meals that are freezer-ready so the recipient has the choice to eat now or later. I am a huge fan of fruits for gifts, so a fruit basket also conveys your interest in their continued good health.
Wrapping: who doesn’t like to see the festive gifts wrapped with sparkles and bows? Well, if you can back off a little bit, you can have a greener wrapping. Most gift wrap with metallic sheen or sparkly detail cannot be recycled. A really perfect choice could be craft paper…white or brown and adorned with a string and greenery; if not that then look for wrapping paper with a recycling circle.
Even better than a paper wrap is reusable cloth bags, dish towels, scarves, or gift bags that could be saved again for next year’s gifting.
Meals: know your clientele! I have learned the hard way that my grandkids could care less about a standing rib roast and would prefer pizza! If you are working with a mixed group of ages, find the foods that all will enjoy to prevent food waste (or in our case, lots of leftovers that either go home with the different families or we eat until we don’t).
Always offer a recycling container next to the trach container so your guests have that option to recycle a can or bottle rather than trash it. I will always choose reusable plates, cups, utensils and napkins over throw away (that way you don’t have to fish out plastic plates from your cans and bottles!)
The amount of garbage in this country increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Do your part to keep as much as you can out of the landfill and at our recycling facilities.
Remember, Gastonia has just opened a new center on Duke Street and along with the other sites, we expect lots of you to visit with your holiday recycling!
And don’t forget! Sunday, Dec. 5, is the Gastonia Christmas Parade on Main Avenue, 4 p.m. and the Christmas in the City celebration with tree lighting at the Rotary Pavilion!
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: How to turn Christmas green with crafts
