Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

5 Cute Upcycled Hacks for Christmas

On: Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Christmas is coming, and no that wasn't the beginning of a carol. We are gearing up for one of the most popular holidays around, putting up our trees and hanging up stockings. It also means that DIY junkies like me are looking for projects for house decor and handmade gifts. Especially those that upcycle old items and save on materials.

Pinterest has once again come to the rescue. Anyone who has been on their DIY board knows that it is filled with cool ideas in both the simple and impossibly advanced categories. Whatever level you are at yourself, you can find something fun to do any time of the year.
But with it being winter, you can bet there are even more Christmas themed upcycle projects than ever. Here are five super cute upcycled hacks for the holidays.

1. Sock Wreath

Sock Wreath

5 Coolest DIY Christmas Gifts

On: Monday, December 17, 2012

We are now far enough into the Christmas holiday that we are all burnt out from shopping, hungover from parties and sick to death of the music, am I right? It may only be December 7, but it all starts so early these days that I feel as though it is all almost over. Even with weeks to go before the big day is really here. A point that I am constantly reminded of every time I look at the list of presents I still have to make.

I never do big gifts for most of my list. Friend, coworkers, neighbors, my kid's teachers and extended family members are usually on a separate list. One where the main point isn't to give them something so much as it is to show I am thinking of and appreciating them. This is best done (in my opinion) through things I made myself, rather than anything bought from the store.

But what to give? I try to break everyone up into two categories: edible and non-edible. People closer to me go with the former, as it takes more effort for me to make those. The latter are given edible gifts that I can make in bulk and wrap up nicely.

Our previously featured DIY hacks:
This year, myself and my kids will be working together on presents. So I thought I would find some new ideas of DIY Christmas items...here are the five I like most.

Christmas DIY Ideas: 5 Ways to Decorate Using Candles and Glass Jars

On: Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I have so many glass jars! Seriously, I have an entire cupboard full of them, most of them from old food items like pasta sauce, salsa and olives. I don't know what to do with them and I never have. While I recycle, my local place doesn't take glassware and I would have to go clear into another county to get rid of them. Which isn't exactly eco friendly when you consider the driving involved to get three hours out of town to the nearly recycling facility that takes glass.

As a result, I tend to take a fair number of them to reuse as water glasses. You know, the big ones you put on the bedside table to combat the effects of winter dryness, and all that. A couple of others have been filled and used as vases, though fresh flowers aren't much of an option now that winter has arrived. My kids have even each used one for their 'rewards jar', which they take a prize from at the end of each week as an allowance for doing their chores.

I have run out of ideas on what to do with these multiplying menaces. I learned how to make my own sauce and salsa in order to avoid acquiring anymore. But what to do with the few dozen still crammed into a cupboard in my kitchen...I could use the space!

This past weekend I sat down and started to really search out things to do with them. The holidays are just around the corner, so it seems like a good time to put them to use. I was relieved to find many struggle with this question, and some pretty cool ideas have come out of upcycling needs. As you would expect, a whole lot of these people had gathered on Pinterest. Man, I love that site.

Here are five of my favorites glass jar upcycling ideas for Christmas (psst: Don't forget to check out our previous glass jar DIY projects: DIY Glass Jar Lanterns and DIY Sun Jars).

1. Table Decorations

Table Decorations

Why Haven't I Thought about That: DIY Photo and Postcard Organizer

On: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

You are most likely to have lots of photos, lots of memories. You like entering your home and being met by those memories. That's what make us feel at home!

However there's never a good way to organize them: Photo frames are boring (you can't often change photos in them) and they don't always fit. Besides, they cannot have too many photos inside...

DIY Photo and Postcard Organizer

 But how about this idea: You can use this DIY shelf  to store postcards and photos. You can re-arrange them as often as you want even daily always creating a new mood! How brilliant!

Plus with some paint and creativity you can make this shelf look cute!

DIY Photo and Postcard Organizer

Do-It-Yourself New Year Round-up!

On: Wednesday, December 29, 2010

I am sorry I haven't been updating my blog for a while but I felt obliged to post at least something to round-up this exciting year.

Great winter holidays DIY projects: enjoy!

Plastic Cups Snowman

This snowman will never melt and it will serve as the holiday decoration for your home throughout many years!

Plastic Cups Snowman

Recycle Gift Cards into Christmas Tree Ornament

I am sure it is fun to create too! And depending on your gift card providers, can be various colors!

Recycle Gift Cards into Christmas Ornament

Plastic Bottle Candle Holder

These will come in handy for any winter holiday including st Valintine's day and New Year:

Plastic Bottle Candle Holder

And don't forget these CD candle holders as well!

Drinking Straw Light Fixture

I am pretty sure this one can be used as the holiday decoration!

Drinking Straw Light Fixture

CD Christmas Tree

OK, it is a bit late now but why not save the page for the next year?

CD Christmas Tree

CD Photo Frame

A great last-minute February 14 gift idea!

CD photo frame

CD Disco Ball

Can also be turned into awesome holiday decor!
CD disco ball

LED Lights in a Bottle

Beautiful decor idea for the holidays!
Christmas LED Lights in a Bottle

Ping-Pong Balls into Diffused Party Lights

Wow!
Ping-Pong Balls Lights

Light Bulb Christmas Tree

Made of used light bulbs this tree looks awesome and is absolutely reusable and environment-friendly!

Light Bulb Christmas Tree
I hope you feel inspired! Happy Holidays and see you in 2011!

3 Fun Ways to Recycle Plastic Gift Cards

On: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

It seems like any retailer offers gift cards nowadays, so it’s most likely that you’ve accumulated several of them. Have you ever wondered how to recycle them? Well, for you not to search any longer, here are are three fun ideas (and gift ideas as well!):

Recycle Gift Cards into a Bracelet

Seems like it takes some time and effort - but looks lovely!

Recycle Gift Cards into a Bracelet
Via

Recycle Gift Cards into a Notebook

It looks cool and will fit even the tiniest purse!

Recycle Gift Cards into a Notebook
Recycle Gift Cards into a Notebook
Via

Recycle Gift Cards into Christmas Ornament

If you are one of those (us) who is going to celebrate this Christmas on budget and the eco-friendly way, you will love this idea. And it doesn't seem to be to hard to create!

Recycle Gift Cards into Christmas Ornament
Via

Pst... Holiday tip: you can buy gift cards for this holiday season with Gift Card Granny. I found it a great and valid resource. And when the holiday season is over, you can recycle them using this post ideas!

3 Eco-Friendly DIY Christmas Wreaths

On: Thursday, November 18, 2010

Christmas is approaching fast and you are likely to be already trying to figure out how to make this year's holidays frugal and eco-friendly while still fun.

We save money and we love our home, therefore we love our DIY life!

So here are three totally green and pretty easy-to-craft DIY projects for you to decorate your home on a budget:

Find the instructions here

Old Ties into the Christmas Wreath

I am sure you have plenty of those ties your husband or dad doesn't need any more. Why not turn them into the fun Christmas decoration?

Old Ties into the Christmas Wreath 

Holiday Greeting Cards into the Christmas Wreath

Recycle your friends' holiday greeting cards into holly leaves for this nice Christmas wreath! That's what I call putting good wished to real use!


holiday greeting cards Christmas wreath

Recycle Wine Corks into the Christmas Wreath

Holidays are so rich in wine, so this year you will know how to recycle them!


Wine Corks into the Christmas Wreath 


Pst, here are few more ideas to recycle festive wine corks: Champagne Cork Flash Drive Holder and Wine Cork Serving Tray

Enjoy!

Oh and while you are still here, why not take this online test on how well you know Christmas!

CD Christmas Tree

On: Friday, January 29, 2010

Oh, I am so late with this one!

But on the plus side, that's a good reason to collect old CDs for the whole year to have enough of them for this year's Christmas tree!

Go spread the idea!

CD Christmas Tree

CD Disco Ball

On: Monday, December 28, 2009

CD disco ball


This one is truly a New Year project. Here's an inspiration and a challenge for you: throw a 80s-style party for this New Year's Eve.

This CD disco ball will be a great fit. Just grab your (maybe also your friends') old unloved CDs, cut them to pieces and glue around a sphere.


Christmas LED Lights in a Bottle

On: Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas LED Lights in a Bottle

Can't wait to enjoy your Christmas celebrations? Do you love when there's plenty of light? Then this cool idea is right for you: Christmas LED lights in a bottle! Isn't it cool?

Christmas LED Lights in a Bottle

CD Candle Holder

On: Sunday, December 13, 2009

CD Candle Holder

This cool candle holders will take you no more than a few seconds to create: take a couple of old CDs, put them in a microwave oven for some time (no more than a couple of seconds) and add nice candles.

This tip can come quite in handy for the holidays: easy and fun!

Create Romantic Light from Beer Can

On: Monday, December 7, 2009

This is a fun idea for this year Valentine's Day: create a romantic evening atmosphere by tweaking a beer bottle a bit!

Beer Can Romantic Light

Plastic Cups Snowman

On: Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Plastic Cups Snowman

Just in time for the holidays, here's a great idea for the eco-friendly Christmas and New Year. Turn plastic cups into a snowman - and it actually looks really cool.

What do you think?

DIY Gifts with Kids This Christmas

On: Wednesday, November 11, 2009


Green and Clean Mom has had a great idea to celebrate this holiday season by creating eco-friendly gifts with the kids.
With children making eco-friendly gifts this holiday season and anytime of the year is easy to accomplish and very inexpensive.
Here are a few ideas from our collection:

Wine Bottle Corks Armchair

On: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Wine Bottle Corks Armchair

Yes, to be able to create this arm-chair you will have to drink a lot. Or you can ask your friends to store corks champaign and wine bottle they drink over this holiday season.

If you have many friends who can make fun, you stand good chances to create this arm chair in the very beginning of the next year!

And well, another reason to have a really happy holiday!

by Gabriel Wiese

Recycle Ping-Pong Balls into Diffused Party Lights

On: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ping-Pong Balls Lights

Holidays are coming! And quite in time here's a cool idea to decorate your house to make stand it out from the crowd: ping-pong balls diffused lights!

Well, the author is right: "ping pong balls make great diffusers and look really cool when they are glowing"