O Christmas tree - you make a really festive necklace! Looking for a fun craft to make out of recycled items? This Christmas tree necklace is made from a paper towel tube and is fun and festive for the holidays!

Start with:

• Paper Towel Tube
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun or Glue
• Cardboard
• Cardstock
• Paintbrush
• Paint

Create it!

Step1: Paint paper towel tube green and let dry.

Step 2: Once dry, cut tube on one side from top to bottom.

Step 3: Cut six approximately 1/2 inch portions from the tube.

Step 4: Glue the ends of the 1/2 inch portions together to form six small rings.

Step 5: Glue the rings into a pyramid - three on bottom row, two in center row, and one on top.

Step 6: Cut strips of green cardstock and roll with handle of paintbrush or pencil to form a tight curl.

Step 7: Glue green cardstock curls to inside of each ring.

Step 8: Cut tree trunk from cardboard and glue to tree. Cut star from painted cardboard or yellow cardstock and glue to the top of the tree.

Step 9: Add string to create necklace or a shorter string to make the tree into an ornament.

 

The Christmas tree is always the centerpiece of holiday decorations. These giant paper ornaments make fun additional decorations for holiday parties or just because!

Start with:

• Cardstock , pink, green, gray
• Pipe Cleaner
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Ruler Pencil
• Single Hole Punch
• Hot Glue Gun or Glue

Create it!

Step 1: Using glue or stapler, combine two sheets of pink cardstock, lengthwise.

Step 2: Trace large circle on combined sheets of cardstock. (We used a dinner plate.)

Step 3: Cut out large circle.

Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3.

Step 5: Cut approximately 14 strips of pink cardstock, 11 inches x 2 inches.

Step 6:  Glue one end of each strip of pink cardstock to edge of one circle. Continue all the way around the circumference.

 

Step 7: Glue the remained edge to the second circle to create a globe shape.

Step 8:   Cut approximately14 strips of green cardstock, 11 in. x 2 in.

Step 9: Glue top of green strip to top circle. Glue bottom of green strip to bottom circle. Repeat until green strips are between all pink strips.

Step 10: Trace 11 in. x 3 in. piece of gray cardstock. Cut out with jagged bottom edge. 

Step 11: With the 11 in. x 3 in. cardstock, round and glue to create tube.

Step 12: Trace circle from tube shape onto gray cardstock.

Step 13: Cut circle out with triangle edges  for jagged finish.

Step 14: Fold triangles from circle down.

Step 15: Set on tube base to make sure it fits securely.

Step 16: Punch two holes in top of gray circle and insert pipe cleaner.

Step 17: Glue gray circle to gray tube.

Step 18: Glue tube to top of globe.

Festive and fun, make several and hang in clusters to make a big impact for your holiday parties!

Looking for something fun to wear to upcoming holiday parties? This reindeer necklace is both fun to make and wear!

 

Start with:

• Textured cardboard
• Bits of colored cardstock (red, white, black)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paper punch
• String

Create it!

Step 1:  From textured cardboard, cut three circles of varying sizes. (We used glasses and bottle tops to trace the circles.)

Step 2:  Near the bottom of the largest circle, glue the second largest circle. Then, to the second largest circle, glue the smallest circle.

 

Step 3:  Use 1 inch hole punch (or freehand) to make two white circles and one red circle from cardstock. Single hole punch (or freehand) two small black circles.

Step 4: Glue black circles to white circles to create reindeer eyes and glue to reindeer face.

Step 5: Cut and glue together strips of textured cardboard for antlers.

Step 6: Attach antlers to face.

Step 7: Glue nose to reindeer face.

Step 8: Tie string around each antler to create necklace.

These would also make a fun activity for pre-holiday playdates!

 

 

This turkey badge is both festive and fun - the perfect accessory for Thanksgiving gatherings!

Start with:

• Colored Cardstock
• Textured Cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue
• Safety Pin
• String
• Paper Punch (optional)

Create It!

Step 1: From textured cardboard, cut half circle - approximately 5 in. across. (Trace from small bowl or large mug.) This will be the turkey's body. Also, cut approximately 2 in. circle for the turkey's head.

Step 2: From colored cardstock, cut shape of feathers, 3-4 inches tall.

Step 3: Cut fringe along feather shapes on both sides for texture.

Step 4: Glue feathers to cardboard half circle.

Step 5: Cut two white circles for eyes (1 in. hole punch or freehand), two black pupils (single hole punch or freehand), orange triangle for beak and red wattle.

Step 6: Glue eyes, beak and wattle to 2 in. circle to create turkey face.

Step 7: Cut small strip of cardboard. Place approximately 4 inch string underneath and glue cardboard strip on top. Tie string around safety pin.

Step 8: Glue face to body.

Pre-cut the parts and offer as a fun activity for kids (or young at heart) pre or post Thanksgiving dinner!