How to Make Your Thanksgiving Eco-Friendly

When I think of Thanksgiving, family comes to mind and I'm thankful to have such a wonderful support system in my life. I also think of turkey and all the food that comes with it when we gather together for a feast. I think of fall colors (not the snow and frigid weather outside my window right now) and realize Christmas is right around the corner.

As an eco-friendly crafter, I created three projects with Thanksgiving in mind. I have Halloween decorations, but not many Thanksgiving items to put out in the fall. The projects below will last the entire season.

Twine Bottle

I've been collecting empty bottles since there are so many ways to upcycle them. This particular bottle is from the Mexican soda Jarritos. It has a cool texture and I didn't want to cover the entire bottle with twine. Find out how you can make it on the Glue Dots Blog.

Fall Votive Candle

Who doesn't love burlap and chevron right now? When shopping for projects, you'll want to look for natural fiber items like jute twine and burlap. And I've always promoted eco-friendly and recycled cardstock like the kraft paper shown above. The supply list and directions can be found here.

Thankful Spool Centerpiece

This is a perfect addition to the projects above and includes the same type of embellishments in the supply list. Visit the Glue Dots Blog to find out how I made it.

Now that we've greened-up our Thanksgiving decorations, how else can we make a day of thanks also a day to be eco-conscious?

Green Thanksgiving Tips

1. Support local farmers' markets and stores when shopping for your meal. If the budget allows, choose organic foods.
2. Use recipes that allow you to make your food from scratch. I recently made a green bean casserole I found on Pinterest. Instead of canned soup, I made a homemade cream sauce and the result was delicious.
3. Eat dinner by candlelight (see projects above).
4. Ditch the paper plates and disposable napkins and cups. This is the perfect time to bring out those cloth napkins you rarely use. You can also invest in a nice place setting to use for years to come or find an assortment of pieces at a secondhand store.
5. Avoid the aerosol sprays and scent your home by simmering a pot of cinnamon sticks.
6. Recycle packaging, cans or bottles used to make your meal.
7. Compost scraps of vegetables and other leftovers.
8. Plant a thankful tree with your family.

Have another green Thanksgiving idea? Share it in the comments! ~Danielle

Related:

Kid's Craft Tutorial: Newspaper Leaf Wreath

Home Decor Tutorial: Repurposed Pie Pan

Photo Collage Pumpkin Centerpiece

Back to School Round-Up

It's the beginning of August and children are headed back to school throughout the month. Luckily, we have a few more weeks of summer at my house!

To get into the "back to school" mood, I've gathered together a few school-related craft projects, as well as some educationally-themed posts.

Back to School Project Tutorial: Upcycled Pencil Holders:

Week in the Life: Back to School Shopping 1985 vs. 2011:

Words of Wisdom: Try Something New:

Tutorial: Framed "Things To Do" list for School-Aged Children:

Would you use dryer lint on a [school-themed] scrapbook layout?:

12 Favorite Children's Books to Read Aloud:

 

Smashed Advice: Learn Something New:

Shopping for clothes and supplies were my favorite things before going back to school. What was (or is) your favorite way to prepare for a new school year? ~Danielle

Take Twelve: October

October has proven to be one extremely busy month and I've barely had time to enjoy the leaves change colors. So for my October Take Twelve, I made a point to capture a bit of fall...and my husband's ankle surgery:

1. Mama Cat is the outdoor cat who also is the mother of our youngest indoor cat.

2. & 3. Leaves changing colors on the trees in front of our house.

4. I gave my oldest daughter permission to decorate the bushes with faux spider webs.

5. Photo taken and the University of Toledo Medical Center where my husband had his ankle surgery.

6. The last of the seeds from our Mammoth Sunflower.

7. My youngest picks up pretty leaves on the way to school and this is her collection so far.

8. I've had this bear statue since I was a little girl and it now sits in an overgrown and weedy flower pot.

9. My husband's wrapped up foot. (See #5)

10. A bit of purple fall color from my front garden.

11. Seeds on the ground from the Mammoth Sunflower. (See #6)

12. Finally! The girls went to visit their grandparents for the weekend and I had time to open a bottle of wine and get my scrap on! (See finished layout here.) ~Danielle

Related Take Twelve Posts:

January

February

March

April

May

June
July

August
September

12 Upcycled Crafts for Every Month of the Year

What can I upcycle today? That's the first question I ask myself when starting a new craft project. If you're reading this right now, I know you often ask yourself that very same question.

Over the past year or so, I've meshed together recycling and crafting. The result: an arsenal of upcycled crafts for every month of the year.

12 Upcycled Crafts for Every Month of the Year

Each project is made from items that often end up in the trash or recycling bin. All of them are craft tutorials I created during my time as a Glue Dots designer and most are crafts for children or ones they can make too.

JANUARY | Kid's Craft Idea: Toy Storage Containers

FEBRUARY | DIY: Birdseed Ornaments + Upcycled Tags

MARCH | Kid-Sized St. Patrick's Day Bangles

APRIL | Easter Kid's Craft: Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

MAY | Mother's Day Upcycled Flower Carrier

JUNE | Father's Day Cassette Tape Card

JULY | 4th of July Snappers Box

AUGUST | Summer Memories Container

SEPTEMBER | Back-To-School Project: Upcycled Pencil Holders

OCTOBER | How to Make a Plastic Bag Skirt

NOVEMBER | Kid's Craft: Newspaper Leaf Wreath

DECEMBER | A Christmas Planner: Coffee Sleeve Mini-Book

When I first joined the Glue Dots design team in 2010, I was still trying to find my niche amongst the many crafty and brilliant bloggers I've had the pleasure to discover. Over time, I realized that I love turning trash into treasure and being eco-friendly in the craft room. What was the last thing you recycled while crafting? ~Danielle

Kid's craft tutorial: Newspaper leaf wreath

Fall is the perfect time to take a nature walk with your family and collect colorful leaves. Preserve the memory of fall by making your own leaves out of newspaper and create a leaf wreath with your children.

The newspaper leaf wreath on my front door.

Supplies:

Glue Dots® Continuous Glue Lines

newspaper

fall leaves (different colors and sizes)

acrylic paint (assorted fall colors)

paint brushes

cardboard

scissors

12" cardboard cake circle

ribbon

1. Paint newspaper sheets to match each leaf. Mix different shades of paint to avoid having one solid flat color. Set aside to dry.

Newspaper painted to match the colors of fall leaves.

2. Cut a 6" circle out of the center of the cake circle. Wrap the ribbon through the center of the cake circle and tie a bow to be able to hang the wreath.

A cake circle is great for making wreaths.

3. Make leaf templates by tracing each leaf onto cardboard, cut out and trace again onto the back of the newspapers. Cut out all of the leaves (21 red, 12 green, 10 yellow, 30 orange).

Cardboard boxes can be used to make templates.

4. Apply Glue Dots® Continuous Glue Lines around the edge of the cake circle to adhere the red leaves. Repeat for each colored set of leaves.

Glue Dots® Continous Glue Lines make crafting fast and easy.

The newspaper leaves will eventually change color due to the lignin in them, but will last much longer than real leaves.

A close-up of the newspaper leaf wreath.

Other Glue Dots Projects:

I wrapped a gift with newsprint and made a bow

Back-to-school project tutorial: Upcycled pencil holders

Recycle old greeting cards into party invitations

Disclosure: This blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots design team.