greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas:

Orange Clove Twinkler Materials: Knife, whole cloves,

beeswax candle, whole orange

1. Cut the bottom of the

orange so it can sit flat.

2. Cut a hole in the center.

3. Scoop out the insides enough

to fit a candle.

4. Decorate the rim of hole by pressing cloves into the orange

skin.

5. Insert beeswax candle in the center hole.

Variation: Make an artichoke twinkler by cutting out and scoop-

ing the center of a choke for a candle.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas: Cranberry Holiday “Beads” Though you can purchase plastic or glass beads at the

store, handmade cranberry bead strands are elegant,

traditional alternatives, and easy to make. These are truly

all-purpose. You can decorate lamps, chandeliers,

balconies, and even windows with these festive and color-

ful “organic” beads.

Materials: Strong thread, whole cranberries (amount

depends on length of desired strand), needle, at least 1.5

inches long.

1. Thread needle

2. Tie large knot at the end of your thread.

3. Begin threading cranberries onto the thread– make sure the knot holds at the end.

4. Continue until your strand reaches a desired length.

5. Tie a large knot at the other end.

Variations: Thread pinecones, dried apricots or cranberries, or bay leaves into the

mix.

Make a popcorn chain, which can be fed to the birds after you’re done.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas:

Table/ Centerpiece Decoration

Bowls of festive natural objects

Place a festive cloth or tree trim in a pretty bowl. Gather pinecones, pomegranates, ornaments, and apples

and place them in the bowl. Sprinkle tiny handmade paper snowflakes in the bowl.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas:

Pinecone Place Holders 1. Make name cards on the backs of used greeting card pictures.

You can do this by cutting pictures from old greeting cards and

writing a name on the non-picture blank side of the paper.

2. Fit name cards in pinecones

3. Attach a festive ribbon or strip of festive fabric.

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greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas:

Gift wrapping

Old posters and maps.

Pages from a child's coloring book taped together (especially nice for

relatives who would enjoy the artwork).

Newspapers (foreign newspapers are great).

Last year's holiday paper (press with warm iron if wrinkled).

Wallpaper scraps.

Pictures or advertisements from magazines and catalogs.

Sunday comic pages.

A present in a present (for example, a hat in a matching scarf, jewelry

in a wooden box, cookies in a reusable tin or cookie jar, barbecue grill utensils or picnic supplies in a table-

cloth, kitchen gifts in towels or all-purpose cloths).

A plain box decorated with leftover glitter, paint, markers, etc.

A cake pan, basket or a wooden box.

Reusable decorative bags.

A “Hollywood box:” individually wrap or decorate the top and bottom of a box with a separate lid.

Encourage the recipient to reuse the box.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas: Bows and ribbons These items make an eye-catching final touch:

Bows saved from other gifts.

Reusable items, such as hair bows, ornaments,

shoe laces or toys.

Stencils or pictures from holiday cards pasted

onto a plain brown paper bag or box.

Last year's holiday cards cut up for gift tags.

Old neckties.

Spices, such as bundled cinnamon sticks or

cloves in mesh cloth.

Scrap fabric, lace, yarn, rickrack and seam tape.

Scarves.

Combinations of beads and buttons.

Dried or silk flowers.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas: Party waste reduction tips These suggestions can really reduce the amount you have to

throw away after a party:

Buy baking goods and snack food in bulk or large vol-

umes.

Use reusable tableware; if you don't have enough, ask to

borrow reusable tableware from friends or family.

Rent dishes, napkins, cups and saucers, tablecloths and glasses instead of

using expensive disposables.

Cut up last year's holiday cards and use as place cards.

Use outdated calendars taped together to make a unique New Year's

tablecloth.

Place easily identifiable recycling containers at your celebration so guests can

recycle their pop cans, bottles, etc.

Encourage host or hostess to reuse and recycle bows, wrapping paper, cans,

glass, etc.

Point out the ways your party demonstrates waste reduction and recycling, and

SPREAD THE WORD and have recycling bins readily available.

greeNG Holiday Decorating Ideas:

Quick craft: Pine cone “fire starters”

1. Melt old colored candle stubs, dip pine

cones in hot wax and place on a piece of wax

paper.

2. Fill muffin tins half full with hot wax,

place a wick on the side of the tin and dip

wax-coated pine cones into each tin. The

wick will be anchored in the wax and

3. attached securely to the pine cone.

4. Cool in freezer five to 10 minutes.

5. Turn upside down and cones should fall out.

To use, just place under wood and light.

Resources:

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/reduce/nowaste.cfm

http://www.reduce.org/holiday

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/reduce/nowaste.cfm

* * reduce

recycle

rejoice!

* reuse