Fold paper to make a triangle. Fold the same triangle in half, so that it makes a smaller triangle. Cut a horizontal slit at the side of the triangle that doesn’t open. Make sure to leave about a centimeter of space at the end. Cut as many more slits across (spaced an inch apart from each other) that you can fit on the paper (should be about 5 or 6 cuts). Unfold the triangle. Grab the two points in the center and fold them in towards each other and staple. Then, grab the next 2 points and fold them in towards each other the opposite way. Staple. Keep folding and stapling all matching points together (remember to alternate front and back). This is one arm of your snowflake. Repeat instructions to make 5 more arms. Once all 6 arms are made, staple points together.
Katie A.’s Eco Friendly Gift Wrap
Materials:
Magazines
A sheet of newspaper
Glue
Scissors
Tape
A present that needs to be wrapped
Instructions:
Carefully rip colorful pages of the magazines. Cut the pages lengthwise, creating 1-inch strips. Glue some of the strips together, until you have a few yards of “ribbon.” Let it dry. Wrap the present in the newspaper, using tape to keep it in place. When the ribbons are dry, wrap it around the present. Then, loop some magazine strips to create a bow, gluing them onto the box as you go. Cover the center of the bow with a circle of cute paper or a fake flower.
Cait’s Personalized Playlist
Materials:
Blank CD
CD Jewel case
Playlist of songs that remind you of the gift-getter
Pictures
Paper
Markers (or type and print the playlist)
Scissors
Glue
Sparkles, gems, buttons, etc.
Instructions:
Burn the tunes onto a blank CD. Label the “album” with the title of your choice. Type out or handwrite the list of songs that you used on your CD. Make it look really pro by adding track numbers, artists and song lengths. Cut track list to slip inside the back part of the CD case. If you can’t open the back, just glue the sheet. Measure a square of paper to match the size of the case. Glue pics to the square. Let dry. Then, glue square (with pics) to the front of the CD case. Decorate with album title and little trinkets—concert tix, shells, sparkles, gems, whatever.
Feeling ambitious? Create a booklet with cute messages about how much ya heart having the person in your life to slip inside the front of the CD case.
Trish’s Paper Bag Lanterns
Materials:
Brown paper bags
Battery-operated tea lights
Scissors
Instructions:
Fold the bag in half lengthwise and then fold again. Cut in designs (like how you make paper snowflakes). Open the bag and pour two scoops of sand or birdseed into the bottom. Grab a battery-operated tea light and place in the center of the bag (on the sand or birdseed). Line your driveway or walkway, place on your porch or window sill, wherever you would like glowing fun.