How to Make a Recycled Candy Cane Ornament

Completed candy cane ornament

Candy canes make lovely decorations for the Christmas tree. However, real candy canes tend to disappear fairly quickly, especially if you have small children. This recycled candy cane is made from an old gift box and red construction paper. They're quick to make, so you'll be able to make many of these ornaments this holiday season. With this craft project, you can save money, save the planet and save your family's teeth all at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Old gift box
• Recycled construction paper
• Recycled printer paper
• Printer

Instructions

1. 

   Click on the thumbnail image to print out the template included with this step. Cut out the candy cane shape around the outer edge.

2. Find an old white gift box in less than perfect condition. Preferably the box should be too battered to be used again for packaging a gift, yet have several areas that are clean and undamaged. Pull apart the corners of the box.

3. Place the candy cane template over the unfinished side of the box. Trace around it, using a very light touch with graphite pencil so that you can erase any mistakes.

4. Cut the candy cane shape inside the pencil lines. Place the template on top of it again, then offset the template to the left about 1/16-inch. Lightly mark where the candy stripes are on the cardboard candy cane with diagonal marks. Then offset the template to the right and mark the stripes on the other side. Repeat this process at the top and bottom of the craft.

5. Place the template over a piece of recycled red construction paper. Trace around it in pencil, then lightly mark the location of the candy stripes. Cut out the red construction paper candy cane just outside the pencil line. Then cut out all of the stripes and arrange them in order on your workspace. Apply glue to the reverse side of every other stripe, one at a time. Use the template as a guide to see which stripes to use. Place the stripes on the craft using the diagonal marks you made in Step 4 as a guide.

6. 

   Use the scissors to make a notch in the template at the end of each candy stripe. Turn both the candy cane craft and template over. Place the template over the candy cane craft and offset it slightly. Use the notches as a guide to find where to mark the craft. Make diagonal marks as in Step 4. Turn the remainder of the red construction paper stripes over and glue them to the reverse side of the craft.

7. Place the candy cane over a piece of cardboard. Use a craft knife to trim any red construction paper which is extending past the white cardboard. Either hang the hook directly on a branch, or punch a hole in the top of the craft and tie a cord through it.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep this project eco-friendly, use recycled printer paper to print out the template.