When the holiday season approaches, Katherine DeGroot pulls out her glue gun, buys craft items in bulk, and scours her refrigerator, pantry, and backyard for extra supplies.
She then makes her own Christmas decorations and presents some of them to her family.
“We use whatever we have at home, and even outside,” DeGroot said. She created stars out of brown paper lunch bags, potpourri of fruit and spices, and candles out of beeswax and recycled jelly to create sparkle and sparkle in her Stillwater home. There is. bottle.
The Instagrammer also shares her latest projects as part of a growing social media community of DIY decor enthusiasts exchanging ideas while keeping sustainability in mind.
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but they can also be the most wasteful. According to a Stanford University study, Americans throw away an estimated 25% more trash during the holidays than at any other time of the year.
To reduce your home's carbon footprint and keep items out of landfills this time of year, the University of Minnesota's Office of Sustainability has compiled a comprehensive list of tips for sustainable decorating, gift-giving and eating habits. We have created a holiday guide.
Karlie Rice, the university's sustainability coordinator, said it can be difficult to break old holiday habits. Baby steps are the key.
“We don't want to overwhelm anyone. Start small and make meaningful changes for you and your family now,” she said.
Start by making your own holiday decorations using sustainable materials and supplies that can be purchased in bulk. Especially at a time when cash-strapped households are battling inflation, it can be more economical to go DIY.
Ready to take a step towards a more cost-conscious and sustainable vacation? Here are tips from college and paper snowflakes from Instagrammers DeGroot (@katherinelouiseegroot) and Emma O'Connor (@emmaelizabethoconnor) How to make crystals, dried fruit garlands, candles, and potpourri.
snowflakes in paper bag
Katherine DeGroot bought inexpensive brown paper lunch bags (less than $10 for 100) to make homemade snowflakes. “I love these snowflakes because it's like celebrating the New Year,” DeGroot added. It is also ideal for gifts.
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What you need: 8 brown paper lunch bags, scissors, and a hot glue gun. Optional: stapler, string, hole puncher.
To assemble: Place the first bag on a flat surface and glue the 8 bags together. Make sure the bag opening is facing up and the smooth, uncreased side is facing up. Draw an inverted T shape on the bag with glue. Place one of the unadhered bags on top of the first bag, facing in the same direction. Repeat gluing and stacking each remaining bag. When you reach the last bag, overlap it but do not glue the top.
To make the design: Use scissors to cut the edges of the stacked bags to create a snowflake design. Creative freedom is allowed here. Once completed, open the snowflake by joining the two end pieces to form a circle. Glue the ends. A safer snowflake classic.
Use for holiday decorations on mantels, table tops, walls, windows, etc. If you want to hang snowflakes, thread string through the existing holes or use a hole punch.
beeswax jelly jar candle
DeGroot especially likes this candle-making project because it's a family activity. And while they like to make it in bulk this time of year in search of that golden holiday glow, the effort pays off far beyond that. “I like these beeswax candles because they can be used year-round,” DeGroot said, adding that she prefers beeswax because it burns cleaner than other candle bases.
Make 4-5 small/medium candles in a jelly-sized jar.
Supplies: 2 pound bag of beeswax pellets or beeswax candle ends. There are 4 to 5 cores. Double boiler or two pots. 4-5 small to medium-sized heat-resistant/fireproof containers, such as jelly or mason jars. Optional: Popsicle stick to center the wick and essential oil for scent.
To prepare: Using a double boiler, pour the candle wax into the top pot and place it on the stove. Heat over medium heat until all the wax is melted, about 20 minutes. Removed from heat. If using, add a few drops of essential oil to your preference and mix into the wax.
Meanwhile, place one wick vertically in the center of the jar. The wick should be several inches higher than the container. Optionally, you can use two popsicle sticks to keep the core in place.
To assemble: Carefully pour melted wax about 1/4 inch from the top of the jar. If using popsicle sticks, allow the wax and jar to cool before removing. Let stand for 1-2 hours until the wax hardens and you can use the candle.
stove top winter potpourri
One of the reasons DeGroot likes this as a gift is the versatility of the material. This batch uses cranberries, oranges, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. However, cloves, fresh rosemary, lemon, apples, or vanilla beans are also suitable. No matter how you cut it, this modern potpourri arrangement is infused with the holiday spirit.
Makes 4 gift bags
What you'll need: A generous bunch of evergreen tree clippings (use tree clippings or a few from your backyard). 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries, 4 oranges. 8 cinnamon sticks, star anise (about 12 stars), 4 sandwich paper bags.
How to assemble: Place the desired amount of evergreen tree clippings into a paper bag. Add about 1 1/2 cups cranberries, 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks, and 3 star anise to each bag.
Instructions: Please write instructions to the recipient: Place the items in a small pot, add enough water to cover the ingredients, bring to a boil and enjoy the aroma.
dried fruit garland
Emma O'Connor's go-to DIY decor items add vibrancy and color to your St. Paul home during the holidays. It's also a family project. “I've always loved using natural resources to create seasonal decorations and bring in elements from the outside, and it's also a fun and easy craft to do with a little help,” O'Connor says. Told.
Makes a 12 foot garland
What you need: 4 oranges or grapefruits. 8 oz fresh cranberries. dish towel; parchment paper; baking sheet and baking rack. Twine or string for the kitchen. sewing needle.
To prepare: Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Slice oranges and grapefruit into 1/8- to 1/4-inch rounds. Pat dry with a kitchen towel and place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
To dry fruit: Bake for 3 to 4 hours or until dry, turning halfway through baking. Let the slices cool on a baking rack.
To finish: Use kitchen twine or twine and a sewing needle to thread dried fruit or fresh cranberries.
Do you have a favorite home DIY project you'd like to share for the holidays? We want to hear from you! Send a few snapshots with a brief description to nancy.ngo@startribune.com.
Tips for a more sustainable vacation
Purchase your Christmas tree from a local tree farm. Plantations provide environmental benefits, from absorbing carbon and releasing fresh oxygen to improving soil quality and providing habitat for wildlife. “These are typically small, family-owned businesses that typically operate in an inherently sustainable manner,” said Karly Rice, sustainability coordinator at the University of Minnesota. . After the holidays, these trees are decomposed for firewood, compost, etc.
If you have an artificial tree, keep it in use for as long as possible. According to the university, it will take at least 10 years for the carbon footprint to match that of a real tree.
Replace traditional string lights with LEDs. Doing so can reduce energy use by 80%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Go one step further and choose solar-powered LEDs. Or, create a glow while saving on energy costs by decorating with fewer lights or without lights using candles and reflective ornaments.
Use natural decorations when introducing new holiday decorations. With the right techniques, biodegradable dried fruits, flowers, and other foraged items can be stored as decorations for years.
When purchasing new decorations, quality is important. Consider a craft market. Or find hidden treasures at thrift stores and thrift stores. “This is a way to give things a second life and keep them out of the waste stream,” Rice said. “And if it’s older, it can be even higher quality.”
Or, like Rice and her family, their favorite sustainable practices spread joy from one generation to the next. “I love hand-me-downs from my parents and grandmother,” Rice said. “It keeps family heirlooms alive.”