that GREEN blog

Keep the kids busy when they are home from school for the Thanksgiving holiday with these eco-friendly projects.  They will enjoy getting creative with you while also gaining a deeper appreciation for Mother Earth.  As an added bonus, your earth-friendly holiday gift wrapping paper, cards and gift tags will be ready in plenty of time.

Gift Wrapping Paper
Brown grocery bags make appealing gift wrapping when creatively decorated.  Simply cut the bags into squares and tape together as needed to wrap the present.  The kids can get imaginative with different ways to embellish the paper.  Here are some ideas to get them started:

-Crayons
-Stickers
-Glitter
-Pictures from old magazines, catalogs and cards.
-Pressed Leaf or Flower Stamps
-Sponge Stamps (Cut sponges into shapes.)
-Potato Stamps (Cut a potato in half and carve a simple shape or use a
metal cookie cutter and then cut away the potato surrounding the shape.)

Ornament Gift Toppers
These shiny little ornaments are the perfect finishing touch to that special present and the children will have a blast making them.  Even better, they can be altered and made into pins or magnets.

Supplies
½ cup salt
1 cup flour
½ cup water
Rolling pin
Cookie sheet
Toothpick
Miniature holiday cookie cutters
Acrylic paints
Glitter glue or glitter paint
Ribbon

Instructions:
1)  Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2)  Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3)  Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and
smooth.  Add more flour if the dough is too
sticky.  Do not add too much flour or the dough may dry out and crack
before you bake it.
4)  Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been
dusted with flour.
5)  Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
6)  Use a toothpick or small straw to make 1 or 2 holes at the top of the
shape, depending on size.
7)  Place all shapes onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the
preheated oven for 2 hours.
8)  Remove from oven and allow them to cool completely before painting.
9)   When the paint is dry, use glitter glue or glitter paint to put a
sparkling cover coat on your ornaments.
10)  When dry, thread ribbon through hole and tie in a knot in the back.

Recycled Paper for Cards & Tags
Your little ones will learn about the importance of recycling with this craft and see how easy it is to make beautiful recycled paper.  They can use the paper to create holiday cards or gift tags to go along with the wrapping.

Supplies:
Used paper
Blender
Glitter
Food Coloring
Pressed leaves and/or flowers
Wire mesh screen
Rolling pin
Cornstarch

Instructions:
1)  Cut paper into small shreds.
2)  Soak shredded paper in warm water for about 2 hours.
3)  Put soaked paper into blender.
4)  Add glitter and a few drops of food coloring.
5)  Blend until mush.
6)  Pour into a bowl and add small quantities of pressed leaves and/or
flowers.
7)  Spread it out on a flat, fine-holed, wire-mesh screen and use a
rolling pin to flatten it.
8)  Smear a tablespoon of cornstarch over the paper to increase its
strength.
9)  Allow to dry – in the sun if possible.

Michele Dupper is Mom to her almost 2 year old son and the owner of Truly Organic Beauty (http://www.trulyorganicbeauty.com).  She lives in sunny FL and has been transitioning to a green lifestyle since starting a family. Michele enjoys educating others about living a more natural lifestyle that is beneficial for the health of our bodies as well as our planet.

Making your Holidays Green