Bringing it all together

Recycled Christmas Tree

our salt dough ornaments
tea bag ornaments
orange juice tin ornaments
alluminum foil star
cardboard ornaments

All these items have decorated our recycled cardboard tree. We are very proud of it and are enjoying it immensely. I hope that you have enjoyed these ideas and that maybe you have incorporated some of them into your christmas

So many presents under the tree. All the ones in wrapping paper are from my mother. Thank you mom for al the Christmas cheer.

Making a star for a top of the tree

Aluminum Foil Star

Materials needed:

• piece of cardboard
• recycled aluminum foil
• recycled ribbon 
• box cutter
• glue stick

How to make:

1. draw a star on a piece cardboard
2. cut the star out using a box cutter
3. cover the star with a piece of aluminum foil. 
4. secure the aluminum foil to the back of the cardboard using a glue stick
5. attach to your tree using a recycled ribbon

recycling under the tree

Use reusable shopping bags and recycled paper to wrap your gifts.  It adds character, is free, and can be recycled once you are done. Use newspapers, advertisement pages, and flyers. Using an assortment of materials will make your tree look homey and interesting. Be creative and enjoy!

Bring a little nature inside

I created an arrangement from things i found at the edge of my backyard, tied a ribbon around them and hung them upside down to dry in my closet for three weeks. The arrangement now adornes my front door.

You too can do this just go cut some plants you like (flowers and berries dry well). Tie a recycled ribbon around them and hang upside down from a hanger in a closet. Wait a few weeks and enjoy!

While visiting the local national forest a few weekends ago I picked up a bag full of pine cones and a few sprigs of evergreen. I placed the pine cones and ever green in a large basket to decorate for winter and the upcoming holiday season.

tea bag onraments

Recycled Tea Bag Ornaments

Materials needed:

• used and dried tea bags
• acylic paint
•  extreme glue stick (this glue stick has more hold made by Elmer's)
• used aluminum foil
• other recycled materials you would like to decorate with

How to make recycled tea bag ornaments:

1. Dry tea bags on a plate over night. This process could take more than a day so be patient
2. Paint the tea bag you desired color. ( I chose gold)
3. Add embelishments
4. I used a piece of packaging that said holiday time, recycled aluminum foil, and a piece of a mesh bag that my cookie cutter for my salt dough ornaments came in. BE CREATIVE!
5. Glue your embelishments to your tea bags
6. Glue the tea bag tag to the tea bag to create a way to hang it from your tree.
7. Enjoy!

this tea bag is an organic echinacea from Traditional Medicinal the tag states " your choices will change the world"

salt dough ornaments

Salt Dough Ornamants


Materials needed:

•  2 cup flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• acrylic paint
• paint brushes
• oven
• rolling pin
• Christmas cookie cutters
• tea bag strings

How to make:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Combine flour, salt , and water in a large mixing bowl.
3. Begin mixing with a spoon.
4. When this becomes difficult use your hands
5. ( add more water if dough is too tough and more flour if it is too sticky.)
6. Spread a little bit of additional flour on your countertop 
7. roll dough out on countertop.
8. press cookie cutters into dough and place ornaments on a baking sheet.
9. make a hole at the top of your ornament for a piece of string .
10. continue to cut the dough using your cookie cutters until all the dough is gone.
11. Place ornaments in the oven for a total of 2 hours.
12. flip ornaments every 20 minutes to avoid curling of the edges.
13. Once your ornaments have cooked let them cool for another 20 minutes.
14. Then you may begin to paint them.
15. Make sure to write the year on the back of your ornament as a reminder of fond memories.
16. After the ornament is painted and dried tie a recycled tea bag string through the whole.
17. Hang on your tree and enjoy for many years to come!

my husband painted this one. It is a beach scene with an umbrella lounge chair and the bright shining sun :)