Recycled Paper Ornaments

Look out for wallpaper samples, pages from magazines and various old wrapping papers, and recycle the cardboard from items such as tea and cereal boxes to use as the backing material for each decoration. It's worth making your own tree decorations, as bought decorations are often chemically treated or made from non-biodegradable substances.

Materials Needed:

• recycled paper in festive colors
• recycled cardboard
• eco-friendly adhesive glue
• scissors

• length of string or wool
• 1 vintage bead or button
• Download: Pattern 1
• Download: Pattern 2

Step 1

Place the template on the piece of paper and draw around it. Cut out a piece of cardboard roughly the same size as the piece of paper.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-Dorling Kindersley - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kinsley Limited

Step 2

Glue the piece of recycled cardboard onto the back of the paper and leave to one side for a while for the glue to dry completely.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-Dorling Kindersley - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kinsley Limited

Step 3

Cut out the paper shape neatly with scissors. Trim the shape if necessary so that no pen or pencil marks are showing.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-Dorling Kindersley - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kinsley Limited