The holiday season is upon us and there is always too much to do. Of course we want to make our homes inviting and welcoming by adding holiday cheer. This year instead of buying new decorations, why not try repurposing past holiday goods and common things found around the house? After all, Thanksgiving is about sharing and being grateful, which includes the preservation of Mother Earth for many years to come.
Check out these DIY ideas from our friends at Earth911.com:
- Fall leaf mason jar candle: Turn any empty glass jar into a candle holder. Use a little Mod Podge and stick some fall leaves to make a festive candle holder, your guests will never know that it was free!
- Leaf art: Take an old canvas, poster board, or piece of wood and paint the background (if needed). Then glue on some fall leaves from your yard. Voilà, you’ve just created a fall-inspired piece of art like what you’d find at the home store.
- Thankful napkin rings: Your guests will never know that these were once toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Cut them into one- to two-inch wide rings and stamp a thankful saying on them.
- Refresh your folding chairs: You know those old rusty folding chairs you pull out for the holiday guests? Give them a fresh coat of paint and re-cover the seats.
- Wine bottle lights: Save your wine bottles! Stuff them with a strand of twinkle lights and light them up when your guests arrive. This is super simple and the lights add to a warm and cheery atmosphere.
- Old book pumpkins: Turn that old ratty book on the shelf into a fall-themed pumpkin for your table. We don’t recommend doing this with your good books, but something you’ll never read again will work fine.
- Plastic pumpkin makeover: You know your kids are never going to use that plastic pumpkin again; it’s just going to sit in their room and collect trash. Stuff it with some plastic bags, old newspapers, or T-shirts and wrap it in burlap. Or, if you have an old sweater in fall colors that no one will wear anymore, use that instead of burlap.
- Painted wine bottles: Another use for wine bottles! Paint them in fall colors. Then, paint the words, “Give Thanks,” or some other Thanksgiving saying on them.
