Saving Green While Decorating for the Holidays

[KayMMIV]

http://green-mom.blogspot.com/2008/11/cheap-holiday-decorating.html

I am always AMAZED at the cost of holiday decorations, even at mass merchandise stores. I've found a great way to be greener  while saving green during the holidays is to shop second hand and use Mother Nature's gifts to us as well for those decorations instead.

Some second hand finds are ready as they are, some need a little sprucing. Sometimes you can make great decorations out of things you already have, especially those gifts you've gotten that you never thought you'd use. It's much easier then some realise to get great, nice looking decorations to suit you tastes & style, at literally basement bargain prices.

Here's some examples from my home.

A Holiday Classic

The nutcracker is a classic holiday decoration and always a sure thing, in my opinion.

I found this nutcracker second hand at a thrift store for $1.

Besides the great price for the perfect shape this piece is in, I really fell for the concept of the chef nutcracker. I thought making a nutcracker (which is technically a food utensil) a chef was so much more appropriate then the soldiers you always see.

I just LOVE it.

I like to connect themes so this Chef is in his element standing by the message board on my kitchen counter.

 

 

An Easy Touch 

 

One of the easiest ways to spruce up a sofa is to toss on a throw.

This snowman fleece was a Christmas gift last year from my mother-in-law.

Similar themed blankets can be found low cost at second hand stores and for especially good prices in the summer at yard sales.


A Modern Find

I have goggled similar looking decorative 'berry trees' in stores for $20 and up. I think these just look fantastic.

I have even toyed with the idea of making one, which I probably would have if I hadn't found this one. You wouldn't need much to do it, and none of it expensive.

This particular berry tree was found at a second hand for $1.

It looked as though someone had dropped it on it's top. Fixing this was easy, I just rearranged some of the 'berries' from around the rest of it to cover the missing pieces on the top.

It looks fabulous and you can't even tell it was ever damaged!

 

A Natural Centerpiece

Many of us have gotten gifts for something or other that we don't feel like we can give away, but have no idea what we would ever use them for.

This punch bowl was one of those gifts for my family. My husband and I got it as a wedding gift from close friends. While a beautiful gift, we have not yet had call to use it, until now.

When I added some gifts from Mother Earth to it the result was a wonderful, and free, centerpiece.

I also sprinkled some Cinnamon, ginger and clove into the mix and have a great smelling homemade holiday potpourri.

 

 

 

[perksmom]

I have another good one that I am going to do with my kids, one is cinamin and the other you can paint. I dont have pics but I think it's going to be fun as well as smell good.

 

Salt Dough Ornaments

1c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. Salt

about 1/3 c. water

Mix the salt and flour together in a bowl. Add the water a little at a time. Squeeze the dough with your hands until it is smooth. roll out dough using a rolling pin (over a floured surface) Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Let air dry on aluminum foil covered cookie sheet for 24 hrs. Or bake in 225 degree overn about 5 min. Watch closely - do not burn ornaments. Be sure to put a hole at the top of each ornament before baking, so you can hang them on the christmas tree. May paint or use makers to decorate. May coat with clear shellac or nail poish to preserve ornaments.

 

Cinnamin christmas Ornaments

3/4-1 c. applesause

1 (4.12 oz) bottle ground cinnamin

Mix applesause and cinnamon together to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Make a hole for ribbon. Carefully place on rack to dry. Let air dry for several days, turning occasionally. If you prefer they may be baked at 150 degrees for 5-6 hours.

[KayMMIV]

these are great, i'm going to share these with anoher group (giving you credit)! thanks!

Quoting perksmom:

I have another good one that I am going to do with my kids, one is cinamin and the other you can paint. I dont have pics but I think it's going to be fun as well as smell good.

 

Salt Dough Ornaments

1c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. Salt

about 1/3 c. water

Mix the salt and flour together in a bowl. Add the water a little at a time. Squeeze the dough with your hands until it is smooth. roll out dough using a rolling pin (over a floured surface) Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Let air dry on aluminum foil covered cookie sheet for 24 hrs. Or bake in 225 degree overn about 5 min. Watch closely - do not burn ornaments. Be sure to put a hole at the top of each ornament before baking, so you can hang them on the christmas tree. May paint or use makers to decorate. May coat with clear shellac or nail poish to preserve ornaments.

 

Cinnamin christmas Ornaments

3/4-1 c. applesause

1 (4.12 oz) bottle ground cinnamin

Mix applesause and cinnamon together to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Make a hole for ribbon. Carefully place on rack to dry. Let air dry for several days, turning occasionally. If you prefer they may be baked at 150 degrees for 5-6 hours.

 

[boutiqueshops]

Using bathroom tissue tubes:

Roll them a couple of times in red, green or white tissue paper.  Be sure to cut it wide enough so that you can scrunch and tie the ends with curling ribbon or bright colored twist ties.  It will be cuter with curling ribbon though.  I save it from packages I get (of course, it helps that I sell it too, but that defeats my purpose here,  rofl).

Anyway, this is a great way to use my scavenged hoards of pretty tissue papers that I've saved from gifts I've received AND use those toilet paper tubes.  LOL!

Saw this in a magazine YEARS ago, and now that I'm retired, I plan to make some this year.  I'll post some pictures  when I make some. 

You could also put small treats inside and scatter them around the bottom of the tree; OR set them around a party table as decoration.  =)

Hope this helps!

Sylvia

[emf6874]

Here's a link on how to make paper mache snowmen http://www.dltk-holidays.com/winter/papermache_snowman.htm 

When I was young I remember making these with my step mom...it was FUN!