holiday recycled crafts for children
Samples of different recycled holiday crafts.

Recycled Holiday Craft Article From December 2008 Issue of Parent and Grandparent Planner


Crafty and Green for the Holidays

Written By Angela Antonelli

Spending less money, and more time with family is on everyone’s holiday wish list. Fortunately, this is a wish that can easily be fulfilled, without the help of the big ‘S’. From the tag on the outside of the box, to the gift on the inside, you and your family can make wonderful things from items that you already have in your home. Check out some ideas that are good for the environment, good for your wallet, and good for some family fun.

(Each of these projects can be altered so that they are age-appropriate for your child. Young children can help with ripping, gluing, designing, and painting. Older children can complete most of the project steps independently).

Gather Together:

  • Old holiday cards, or extra cards from last year
  • Raffia, ribbon, or string
  • Brown grocery bags or thin cardboard (from cereal boxes, etc.)
  • Cardboard box scraps
  • Tissue paper (optional)
  • Picture frame (optional)

You will also need:

  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • String
  • Hole punch
  • Paint (tempera or poster paint)
  • Glue (white glue or tacky glue)
  • Modge Podge (optional)

The Cards That Keep on Giving:

recycled holiday card craft

Recycled Card

If you want to make your own gift tags, you can find all sorts of great papers, images, and pre-printed sayings in scrapbooking supplies. But, where else can you find great paper, images, and pre-printed sayings? On old holiday cards. So, save your money, turn on some holiday music, have fun perusing last years’ cards, and create some simple tags for this years’ gifts.

  1. Choose a small image that you like from one of your cards, and remove it by tearing around the edges of the image.
  2. Tear a piece of a brown grocery bag into a shape that is slightly larger than the image from the card.
  3. Glue the image from the card onto the grocery bag shape.
  4. Punch two holes near the top of the tag, side by side.
  5. Thread a piece of raffia or ribbon through the holes, and tie into a bow on the front of the tag.

Tips:

  • Sort your cards by style ahead of time. For example, you can sort them into categories such as: country, sophisticated, modern, old-fashioned, and so on.
  • Take a look at your cards before you start cutting them up. Cutting up a “thanks for your business” card from your dry cleaner is different than using a card from Great-Grandma.
  • You can also do this project using a piece of a card as the background, with a grocery bag shape glued on top (draw your own shapes, or trace cookie cutters).
  • You can use this project to create ornaments as well. In order to strengthen your ornaments, coat them with a layer or two of Modge Podge before adding the ribbon.
recycled holiday gift tag craft

Recycled Gift Tag

String Stamps

Don’t get strung out over the high prices of wrapping paper. You can easily make your own festive printed gift wrap, using some string and cardboard.

  1. Cut out two small squares of cardboard, and glue one top of the other to make a small block. Draw a simple design on the cardboard using permanent marker (heart, stocking, candle, present, etc.).
  2. Coat the top of the cardboard block with glue.
  3. Glue string the string in place, following the lines of your drawing.
  4. After the glue has dried, use a paintbrush to coat the string with paint.
  5. Stamp the string image onto your paper (you can use a brown grocery bag, plain paper, or tissue paper. You can also print directly onto a gift bag or box).

Tips:

  • Use thick string so that your design will be raised far enough above the cardboard to create a good print.
  • Practice stamping on a piece of scrap paper before creating your wrapping paper.
  • When stamping, place your stamp onto the paper, and gently rub the top of the cardboard to ensure an even print. Pull the stamp directly upward when removing it from the paper.
  • If you want to print in different colors, stamp the excess paint out on a piece of scrap paper. When it no longer prints, you can apply a different color of paint.
  • For extra sparkle, apply dry glitter to your printed design before the paint dries.
  • Wait until the paint is completely dry before wrapping your gift.
  • Think of other things you can use for print making. (For example, you could make a wreath print using a thread spools to print the wreath, and a pencil eraser to print berries on the wreath).

Victorian Paper Beads

Here’s a twist on the Victorian craft of making beads from paper. By using old cards, your beads will be stronger and brighter than they would be with regular paper. After you get the hang of this project, you’ll be able to beadazzle your friends and relatives with beautiful gifts.

  1. Cut the cover of your card into several long thin triangles, running the length of the card.
  2. Choose a card that is mostly one color, and cut it into long thin rectangles (these should be slightly wider than the widest part of the triangles that you just cut).
  3. Place a rectangle under the pencil, color-side down. Wind the rectangle around the pencil in a scroll-like fashion, and glue the end so that it holds its shape. Hold in the paper in place until it sets.
  4. Put glue along the back side of one of the triangles. Place the triangle under the pencil, color-side down. Starting with the widest end, wrap the triangle around the colored paper in a scroll-like fashion. Try to stay centered over the solid-color paper as you go. Hold the paper in place until the glue sets, and then slip the bead off. Continue until you have as many beads as you need.
  5. Thread beads onto beading wire or string, and tie the ends.

Tips:

  • When winding your paper, take care not to wind so tightly that your bead will not slide off of the pencil.
  • Practice this project with scrap paper before using your favorite card designs.
  • If you want to add to the strength of your beads, you can coat the beads with clear nail polish.
  • For smaller beads, try using a toothpick instead of a pencil.
  • You can also use your beads to make ornaments or garlands.
holiday recycled frame crafts for children
Recycled holiday photo frame.

Many Happy Returns Picture Frame

By using old holiday cards for other projects, you are reducing the amount of paper that gets thrown away by reusing existing materials. So, whether the frame you design is blue, red, or silver, you can be proud that it’s green.

  1. You can either paint your frame, or choose to leave it plain.
  2. Cut some small images and/or text from various holiday cards.
  3. Without gluing, place the text and images on top of the dry frame. Rearrange the items until you are happy with the layout.
  4. Glue your text/images in place.

Tips:

  • You can make your own frame by using a craft knife (adults only) to cut a an opening in a piece of scrap cardboard.
  • To protect the surface of your finished frame, you can coat the top with a layer or two of Modge Podge.