Corn Husk Poinsettia

Simple and biodegradable DIY decor for Christmas.

An almost costless Christmas is not impossible if we'd only look around for materials to recycle.

For the all-natural category, corn husks may- if not top the list for the most flexible. 

Materials needed:
~ dried corn husks
~ floral wires
~ pair of scissors
~ gold spray paint (optional)

 Step 1: cut into shape 5 petals

 Step 2: take a thin strip of corn husk and make a loop
 Step 3: make 3 pcs. of looped strips
 Step 4: arrange the 5 petals around the loops

 Step 6: secure the corn husks with floral wire

Create several others depending on the arrangement of the decorations that you've decided to make.

 Step 7: embellish with spray paint or glitter dusts for a more festive effect.

DIY Christmas 'Cookies' Ornaments

Only two ingredients plus a sprinkle of creativity.

Actually, this project happened because I found a pack of expired crushed graham that I wouldn't want to go to waste. If you do not have one in your pantry, don't fret because you could do with any store-bought air-hardening clay or visit my post about homemade bread clay to be just as economical.

To start off, you only need to mix these two ingredients to make a dough.

A pack of expired crushed graham and white glue.

Mix in the white glue slowly, checking out the consistency as you knead till everything clump together and nothing sticks on your hand anymore. Put the dough inside a plastic bag and let it rest for about thirty minutes.

Roll it flat then open up the plastic bag and you are ready to cut away.

Very much like preparing a real cookie dough.

Christmas cookie cutters would come in handy at this point but there's no reason to not use a craft knife when cookie cutters are not available.

Time for the fun part.

Decorate your 'cookies' with glitter dusts, tiny beads, shiny little trinkets and whatnots. Don't forget to pierce holes for the tag strings.

'Bake' or dry them cookies, beside the window maybe facing the sun.

Not forgetting to dry the underside of course.

Christmas 'cookies' ornaments looking good to eat.

Recycled Bottle Christmas Wreath

Christmas wreath with plastic poinsettias out of recycled bottles.

 This Christmas wreath spread like wildfire at my sons' elementary school as the students' project for the season,  I do not claim to be the originator of this design though. I hope it can give you inspiration for your DIY project; mine is really simple because of time constraints, you however can make it more festive by adding more design elements.

Below is how I cut a poinsettia flower out of a 250ml plastic bottle:

After cutting, paint the 'leaves' and put glitters on the flower then hot glue both parts together. You may now "cap" (pardon the pun) some embellishments on the center.

Attach several sets of flowers on a ribbon-covered round cardboard.

Foil Lid Christmas Angels

Christmas is truly that time of year for crafters to get into creative mode and turn virtually anything into an ornament or a seasonal statement. Here are some tips to turn that aluminum foil lids from your children's formula into whimsical Christmas angel decors using only a pair of scissors.

(1) The pull~up ring is the reference point and will serve as the head. (2) Cut small slots on both sides of the aluminum one~third of the way from the ring. (3) Turn the whole thing into a cone, pinch the lower part of the ring a bit and (4) cut an inverted v-shape at the back of the angel.

 (5) Lay open and flatten out the cut portion. (6) Interlock the slots at the front. (7) Using the half part of another foil lid, cut the shape of the wings. (8) Fold at the center and cut an upright v-shape.

(9) Attach the wings to the back of the angel by interlocking the v-cuts on both. (10) Now the general basic shape of the angel is completed and you can proceed to embellishing and decorating it to your taste. (11) Aluminum foil can be embossed over any intricately designed finding like a perfume cap (12) or you can hand emboss it by using any sharply~pointed object.

You can decorate your angels further with other materials like craft beads or glitters and you can either hang them up on your tree or prop them on dainty bottles.