Design^Sprout | Your Guide to Green Design

The Trashiest Christmas Ever.

   Christmas trees have gotten so expensive lately that for quite a few years now I've decorated a potted plant. True, you lose that fresh-from-the forrest smell but you're $100 bucks richer for the sacrifice (not to mention, free of tree-killing gulit!). That's why I was so utterly thrilled when Design^Sprout reader/super clever designer Eric Dalpiaz sent in photos of his homemade, completely recycled Christmas tree.

  "Why not make a tree out of stuff you have laying around doing some house renovations? I just framed it with the 2x4s and some framing nails. Then I wrapped that frame with the chain link fence.  The rest is pretty self explanatory. Just converted the chandelier to make it able to plug into the lights. Figured I'd use all this stuff for something before I took it all to Habitat's ReStore." High-five, Eric.

 

Cheap, Chic and Oh-So-Green DIY Ornaments!

  I spied these scrumptious Christmas ornaments on the crafty blog, my life in lowercase.  The clear, glass bulbs are a fabulous blank canvas for creativity.  Here, she's used bits of scrap yarn, offering up a colorful and textural feast for the eye. They would also work wonderfully with the tiny bits of wrapping paper we often end up throwing away. You can find the affordable bulbs all over the place but extra points if you get them at saveoncrafts, which promotes recycled glass.

Tree Trimmings

The only thing better than getting a present is giving one! These inventive woodgrain cards by Night Owl Paper Goods are made from ecologically sustainable birch wood and are so cute you could hang one on your tree year after year.