How to Recycle Old Christmas Decorations

Everybody is going green these days and making a concerted effort to recycle everything they can. That includes old Christmas decorations. Instead of throwing them away without a second thought, now is the time to get creative and repurpose old ornaments, lights and tinsel into something new. Below are some ideas to accomplish just that.

Things You'll Need

• Artificial green wreath
• Topiary
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Fabric
• Trim
• Craft paint
• Paint brushes
• Floral spray
• Glitter
• Crystals
• Old jewelry items
• Flocking spray

Instructions

1. Pull out all of the old Christmas decorations you are thinking about tossing away. Divide them into like groups: Put all ornaments in one pile, tinsel in another and lights in yet another.

2. Decide on a plan of action, perhaps from one of the ideas noted below. Make a list of the supplies you need to complete the project and go shopping to pick them up.

3. Use old indoor/outdoor white Christmas lights that still work to decorate trees, bushes, flowerbeds or any outdoor structure. Make sure the lights are well-hidden so that nothing is visible from the outside except the bulbs. By choosing white lights that don't obviously say Christmas, you can use the lights to bring a year-round beautiful glow to your home and yard.

4. Repurpose old garlands of tinsel for arts and crafts. Smaller strands can be used to decorate handmade cards for family and friends. Children will love using larger strands to decorate old boxes for their most treasured items. Others will use them to play dress up, wearing them like necklaces and bracelets.

5. Reinvent old treetop angels or Santas by making new outfits for them. Carefully cut away the old costume to use as a pattern for the new one. Better still, create your own pattern. Be sure to clean the porcelain heads and arms and repair or redo the painted features if necessary. Add new accessories to the piece, such as miniature boys in Santa's hands or a dove of peace in the angel's.

6. Cut up old Christmas linens such as kitchen or bathroom towels, napkins and place mats to use for cleaning around the house.

7. Repaint or glitter old poinsettias to make them look different. Paint old red flowers a new color, such as deep burgundy, purple, or even navy blue. Highlight them by spraying fine aurora borealis glitter across both the flower and the leaves. If you like the original color but want to make it look different, then use heavy glitter in various shapes and sizes to give it some new pizzazz. Add a few crystals to the center for a unique and fun look.

8. Repurpose old tabletop Christmas trees or door wreaths by flocking them with fake snow. The beautiful white texture will add another dimension to the piece and make it look almost new. To make the snow glisten, blow a bit of aurora borealis glitter onto the flocking while it is still wet.

9. Use old pine garlands to make new wreaths for your home's windows. Wire the garlands onto a wire frame. Decorate the wreath with old Christmas ornaments, pinecones from the yard, dried berries or anything else you desire.

10. Paint old Christmas bulbs a new solid color or decorate them with geometric, floral or other designs using glass paints. Add touches of glitter, crystals, old pieces of broken jewelry, braid, ribbon, roping or lace appliques to accent them.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative and think of new ways of reusing your old decorations.

• Use floral paint, not regular spray paint, when repainting silk poinsettias.