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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Still looking for ways of adding color and sparkle to your surroundings this Christmas? Ecobiters have contributed a few tips for DIY quick and easy decorations from whatever is on hand. Generally the inspiration comes from the material itself - recycled paper or cardboard, bright fabric scraps, old clothing and finds from thrift stores or flea markets, yard sales and vintage stores. A seashell collection or interesting shaped natural objects like seed heads, dried flowers, nuts or pine cones or other treasures found on Nature walks.

With each new treasure or 'find' that you look at it and think, 'Now, what can we make from that?' Once the idea is there, it only takes a little fiddling, glueing or stitching to produce some beaut inexpensive and eco-friendly DIY decorations and ornaments for the table, Christmas tree or front door, or new ways of wrapping those last minute gifts.

TREE ORNAMENTS

If you like sewing, it is easy to cut out simple shapes from leftover fabric, the brighter the better, and stitch together with a little padding between the two sides. Felt is good for this too - you don't have to worry about finishing seams and neatening cut edges. Decorate by embroidering with a pretty flower or geometric design or sew on beads, butons, sequins, lace - whatever takes your fancy. Sew a ribbon / yarn tie / string to the top for hanging on a tree.

Another attractive tree decoration can be made by using pingpong balls or small foam ones. These can quite readily be covered with bright colored strips of ribbon and lace, attached with either glue or pins depending on the type of ball you use. Finish with a ribbon bow and loop. Hung singly or in groups, these look lovely against dark foliage.

Look in old sewing boxes to find cotton spools. Wrap them in tartan ribbon or recycled colorful paper. Thread together to make stunning, yet simple Christmas tree hanging decorations.
An alternative is to find old costume jewellery. Decorate, paint or insert Christmas images from recycled paper. Old gift cards and wrapping paper can be turned into tree adornments with some clever cutting and string.

Try hanging colorful recycled paper chains, popcorn and cranberry strings on your tree for that traditional touch, or lines of beads and buttons instead of tinsel. You can fashion your own ornaments out of foam / tennis balls and odd scraps of material or perhaps tie some candy canes to the branches for a sweet tree.

Decorations can be made from organic, recycled and scrap materials. Choose a theme. Try organic popcorn, dough, cinnamon sticks, bows, gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, pine cones, gumnuts, painted eggshells and even dried indian corn. One of the fantastic things about a handmade Christmas is the chance to recycle bits and pieces lying around the home.

For more eco-friendly DIY tree ornaments click here.

TABLE DECORATIONS

Now for decorating the 'festive board". A table that's beautifully set out gives a meal shared with family and friends such elegance, and a table runner down the centre of it displays decorations and candles handsomely.

Plain fabric place mats and napkins can easily be transformed for Christmas. Just add a little appliqued motif to each - santa, tree, bell or holly perhaps - in a bright contrasted color. Or cut out a stencil and use eco-friendly fabric paints to apply your chosen design. Keep it simple for greater effect.

Shells are a good standby here too. Large ones make great dishes for homemade organic sweets and nuts.Polished spiral types cna be made into delightful candle holders provided they are set on a firm base - use glue to attach to a piece of polished wood, stone or another, flatter shell. Decorate the base with holly or other attractive greenery. A striking centrepiece for the table can be created by glueing small shells onto a twisted branch to form a little tree and adding some tiny decorations (gumnuts dipped in melted beeswax old crayons or candles) to complete the Christmas effect.

WREATHS

These are a very traditional way of decorating the home for the festive season, but there are lots of ways of producing original effects by using local materials. Depending on the type of wreath you are making, the base can be a circle of strong cardboard or three-ply, a twisted ring of vines, or a wire loop (old wire coathangers are good for this) which may be padded with foam, fleece or straw. Materials for completing the wreath could include all sorts of greenery (choose different shades, and types that will last), berries and other fruits, fresh or dried flowers, herbs, pine cones and nuts - even feathers. Attach with wire or glue and finish with ribbon, raffia, fabric or lace bows. You could even make a repurposed wreath from plastic bread bags cut into strips and tie onto a wire base - very colorful, but we prefer the more natural look. What better way to welcome vistors to your home than to hang a homemade wreath of leaves and fruit.

Dried Apple Wreath  Ripe red Organic apples,1/4 Cup lemon juice,1 teaspoon lemon juice + 2 Cup cold water.Wooden embroidery hoop or use vines from the garden (see above for more ideas),Cinnamon sticks + Ribbon for bow.

Do not peel apples. Core and cut (slice) 1/8 inch thick. Slice crosswise so you will be able to see the hole in each apple slice. Place in water and lemon juice mixture. Drain thoroughly. Spread out on cookie sheet and put in 140 degree oven. Turn over to other side after 30 minutes. Dry until fairly firm. Choose size of wooden embroidery hoop / wreath desired and glue apple slices to edge of hoop. Arrange a bow or other decoration and glue on. Garnish with cinnamon sticks as desired.

GIFT WRAPS

Now for the last furry of Christmas gift wrapping . You don't want to spend your limited money on expensive paper that will just be thrown away, and there must be something around the house that can be used. There is! Use your imagination to present your homemade gifts in baskets, decorated jars for cookies and treats, shells for small soaps, decorated clay pots or painted tins for plant cuttings and herbs ... the list goes on!

For avid sewers the choice is easy. Use up some more of fabric scraps to personalize gift wraps. For larger gifts you may have to sew a few pieces together, so choose some bright contrasts for extra effect. You can even make a simple drawstring bag that will be useful in itself as well as containing another gift. Embroider intials on the bag to make it more special.

Recraft by decorating a canvas reusable grocery bag with fabric paint, letter stamps or other fun embellishments.

Old paper sewing patterns and paper you have saved for the kids to draw on. Use your imagination and the kids' eco paints to create your own artwork. Of course the kids can help too, but don't let them have all the fun! An old toothbrush is great for spraying paint of different colors all over the paper. Stencils (the ones you made for the table decorations) can also be used to create colorful patterns.

A large awkwardly shaped object may be best packaged in a cardboard box, so you just decorate the box. Paint it , stencil it, cover with diffferent recycled colored paper , fabric or magazine cutouts, write messages on it - by the time you are finished it will be as precious as the gift inside.

Finishing touches for your gift wrapping can be varied as the gifts you make. Tie the parcel with a piece of hair ribbon or braid, loop an attractive belt around it, make a plait from multi colored wool. Slip sprigs of dried herbs or flowers through slits in the paper - use anything that the recipient will enjoy or find useful.

Save the giftwrap you receive this Christmas - does not mean you are being a 'Scrooge', you're simply being environmentally friendly by wasting less!

Christmas need not be a great drain on your precious time, energy and finances. With these shortcuts the whole family can enjoy the preparation as well as the festivities in a much more relaxed fashion. After all, it is supposed to be the time of peace as well as goodwill, isn't it?

DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS

With a little planning anyone can give Christmas presents that are thoughtful, original, recycled and homemade that make a difference to the environment.

Try to picture a world without gifts. There would be no colorful wrapped presents, nothing under the Christmas tree or in Santa's stockings.

Christmas gift giving is a tradition that has been passed down for countless generations.

It's not merely about spending money; it's to do with the time and effort you put in that makes gift giving so special.

There really is nothing like making a presant and putting a bit of 'love' into it and watching the recipient break into a smile as they discover what is behind the repurposed paper and ribbon. The following link will help you produce the perfect gift for everyone.

DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS

DIY FESTIVE FOOD

Buying food for all the festivities can add up to more than you might want to spend on the holiday, but making your own feast and doing things simply can keep your budget under control without skimping on the mirth. If you're entertaining a large crowd, ask guests to bring a plate of food or something to drink as a contribution. And if it's just a small group, don't overdo it.

Make your Christmas simple this year and above all, enjoy it! Christmas is all about spending time on those you love. It's not to be fretted over, but revelled in. Discover creating your own unique family traditions and special memories with your own two hands.

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DIY Eco Friendly Christmas Decorations