101 ethical and ecological ideas for Xmas/Winter decs

[QuakerBear]

I've just been given a little budget to decorate my work, so....

1. Holly from the garden of the empty house next door.
2. Newspaper paper chains

[Annpan]

3. Origami baubles - link to instuctions - make them in many colors from sustainable / recycled / organic / paper and string them together to make garlands.

4. paper snowflakes... remember nursery school windows?

5. make wreaths... not just holly but any greenery (I used to use laurel) with highlights of holly, ivy and berrys.

6 Ask people to donate old chrismas decorations, you could use them as they are or spend a bit of time reinventing them (2 strands of crappy tinsel wound together looks as good as new)


Oh I'll think of more... I am the christmas elf... I love it

[red]

ivy and bay are also good greenery, we always bring a fair bit in.

[Helsbells]

8. Bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, and orange cut into slices and slowley dried on a low oven, strung together.

9. Oranges with cloves stuck in em in a bowl on the table makes a nice smelling decoration,

10. Ginger biscuits to hang on the Christmas tree decorated with cloves, rose hips, peel etc

[Thomzo]

Get your colleagues making paper chains from junk mail.

If you've got a big, bare wall, get all your colleagues to put all the cards that they receive on it with blue tack.

Cut stars and other shapes out of colourful junk mail and use blue tack to put them up as well.

Cheers
Zoe

[snapdragon]

11. recycle old cd or dvds, cut a stencil out of thick paper lay it over the cd and use left over paints to create a snowflake, candle, tree or what-you-will design

12. same but cut out parts of last years cards (double sided sticky or craft glue 'blobs' work well)

[Chickenlady]

13.Make snowmen out of old loo rolls and cotton wool
14. Freecycle for and unwanted Christmas tree

[mrsflibble]

12. same but cut out parts of last years cards (double sided sticky or craft glue 'blobs' work well)

lakeland currently have some sticky blobs on 3 for 2.

[kimmie]

i am currently sewing popcorn together so it will act as tinsel on my tree! also i have dried orange slices to act as baubles...look great when the light shines through them...blow eggs and decorate the shells is another!

so thats 15...16...and 17 done lol
anyone for number 18?

[mrsflibble]

18. do the same thing as Kimmie has with popcorn, only use Cranberries instead.

[Annpan]

18. do the same thing as Kimmie has with popcorn, only use Cranberries instead.

Won't the cranberries stink and be a bit fuzzy by christmas So many people around here have their trees up already, don't fancy the chances in a centrally heated house for 4 weeks

...but they would make for interesting outdoor decorations

[hamster]

Fake trees?

[Thomzo]

If there is a scrapstore near you it's worth making a visit. Not only do they have loads of fun things to make decorations out of but they often have decorations as well.

Zoe

[mrsflibble]

if the tree is near a radiator, the cranberries dry on the strings like mushrooms.

[kimmie]

you could use dried cranberries..
what about two cranberries to one popcorn for a different look!