Outdoor Christmas decorations can use a large amount of energy, create a lot of waste and be expensive to purchase. However there is an alternative that is both eco-friendly and inexpensive. This year instead of purchasing outdoor Christmas decorations why not try you hand at making your own homemade outdoor decorations? They’ll look great and you’ll feel good knowing that you’ve done your part to make this year’s Christmas celebration a little “greener” by decorating with eco-friendly outdoor Christmas decorations.
Ice Wreaths
If you live in an area that gets snow in the winter you can decorate with these pretty and eco-friendly ice wreaths.
Directions:
1.To make an ice wreath simply fill a large bowl with water and place a smaller weighted bowl in the center.
2. Next place natural items such as pine cones, nuts, fruits and berries in the water.
3. Place the water filled bowl in the freezer.
4. Remove the bowl when the water is completely frozen and run the bowl under warm water a few seconds to loosen the ice from the bowl.
5. Finish by tying a large ribbon around the wreath and hang outdoors. You’ll have a beautiful eco-friendly Christmas wreath that will last until the spring thaw sets in.
Tumbleweed Snowman
If you live in the Midwest where snow is virtually non existent you can still make your own snowman using eco-friendly tumbleweeds.
Directions:
1. To make a snowman that’s both eco-friendly and cheap you need to gather up at least two tumbleweeds of different sizes. Because tumbleweeds can be prickly be sure and wear gardening gloves when handling them.
2. Next decide where you want your snowman and pound an old broomstick into the ground. This will help hold your tumbleweed snowman in place.
3. After you have your tumbleweeds stack them on top of the broomstick upside down to make your snowman’s head and body.
4. To make the snowman’s face wire a carrot nose in place and hot glue black cardboard circles for the eyes and mouth.
5. Next hot glue cardboard buttons down the front of the body and add two sticks for arms. To finish add an old scarf and hat.
Tin Can Luminaries
Forget expensive walkway Christmas lights you can make your own using empty tin cans from your own kitchen.
Directions:
1.First you will need to gather several empty tin cans and remove the labels.
2. Second use a Sharpie marker to draw a design on your tin can. Stars, candy canes and gingerbread men all work well.
3. Next fill each can with water and place in the freezer.
4. Once the water in the cans is completely frozen remove and use a hammer and nail to punch holes around the design you drew on the can.
5. After you have finished punching out your design you can paint the cans in Christmas colors or leave plain.
6. Place a little sand in the bottom of each can to weight it down and place along your driveway or walk.
7. Finish by inserting an eco-friendly beeswax tea light in each can and light.
Source:
Personal Experience