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PrintTurn Your Trash into Holiday Treasures
Looking for a holiday activity that will be a guaranteed good time for your family?
Photograph by Robert Marek
Get eco-crafty with your kids and help them create simple yet whimsical ornaments from recycled materials. Making decorations from stuff you might toss in the trash teaches your kids valuable lessons about recycling. Your family will enjoy the time spent together, and everyone will feel good about giving back to the earth by keeping common household items out of the landfill. Encourage your children to make these keepsake decorations as gifts for neighbors and relatives. With the joy they will spread, your kids will quickly see that the best presents are made, not bought.
Make a holiday CD picture ornament
You’ve downloaded all of your CDs to your iPod, so what do you do with the old plastic discs? Does your son or daughter have a favorite piece of clothing that is past its prime, but too precious to give to the thrift shop? Turn the CDs and the fabric into light-catching, photo-adorned ornaments. Gather some discs, fabric, family photos, craft glue or double-sided tape, raffia or ribbon, a pen, and scissors, and you’re ready to create.
1. Trace around the CD onto a piece of fabric (sturdy fabrics like corduroy work best). Cut out.
2. Cut another piece of fabric into the shape of a 5-point star. Make the star the same size, or slightly smaller, than the size of a CD.
3. Cut a 16-inch piece of raffia or ribbon. Loop it through the hole in the center of the CD and tie a bow or knot at the ends. This is the hanger for your ornament.
4. Paste or tape the circle-shaped fabric on the front, printed side of the CD, covering it completely, and the star-shaped fabric on the back, shiny side. You’ll paste right over the ribbon or raffia. Make sure your star fabric covers up any writing in the center of the CD, but leaves some shiny plastic showing. The star side will be the “front” of the ornament.
5. Pick out some favorite family photos that are printed in sizes smaller than the CDs. Cut the photos into fun shapes, like circles, squares, or triangles. Perfection is not necessary.
6. Paste a photo on top of the star-shaped fabric. If you like, you can write a message on the back (covered) side of the CD.
Jessica Iclisoy is the founder of California Baby, a natural skincare line for babies, kids, and sensitive adults. Visit her website at californiababy.com.
