Waste Not, Craft More

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHANDLER JOINER

As the director of a small camp, I am very familiar with reusing household items for crafts... our storage closet is currently full of toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, old PVC pipe and plenty of cardboard boxes to make countless bunkhouse forts. Summer camp is known for being creative with the materials you have on hand, so why not bring that mindset into the holiday season?

We throw away plenty of items every day that could be used to create unique holiday decor, handmade gifts or festive gift wrapping. For example, the everyday toilet paper roll could be used to make...

• A star tree ornament: Just grab your hot glue gun and scissors to transform an ordinary roll into a dazzling ornament. Check out Happy Crafty’s how-to video on YouTube: Beautiful DIY Toilet Paper Roll Ornament Turned Into a Star.

• An advent calendar: For this one you will need 12 (cut in half) or 24 rolls, one cardboard box, and a glue stick. Check out O.sugakova’s how-to video on YouTube: DIY Advent House Calendar. Some sustainability tips: Let your kids paint/draw on the rolls and cardboard rather than using tissue paper and gift wrap to decorate. Fill the rolls with tiny items you already have around, such as coins, forgotten figurines or leftover hidden Halloween candy.

Along with toilet paper rolls, we are also surrounded by a constant flow of cardboard boxes. Use cardboard, scrap paper, scrap yarn and whatever else you can find to let your little ones make fun and unique holiday greeting cards. I can’t think of a single person that wouldn’t love a chaotic handcrafted card. Then use the leftover cardboard and a little white paint to make a gingerbread house garland (an easy tutorial can be found on Pillar Box Blue). And finally, use the even smaller scrap pieces to make gift tags (also great to do with cereal boxes). By the end, you will have used every inch of that Amazon box.

Sustainable crafting isn’t just about reusing items you already have, it is important to consider where the final product ends up after the holiday season is over. Many people choose to make dried fruit and popcorn garland because they are compostable. Once January is over, add the garland (including the biodegradable twine) to your compost pile and support your spring garden.

I encourage you to use the above ideas to spark your own creativity. Repurpose, reinvent or transform – the options are endless. Embrace your messy side and try some new hands-on crafts this holiday season.

Chandler Joiner is the Director at Rockhaven Camp and Retreat Center, located in Gallatin Gateway between Bozeman and Big Sky. Chandler is passionate about the transformative power of spending time outdoors.