Earth Friendly Xmas Decors

I made several of these green basket arrangements for the different rooms in the house. I used a basket($2.97) from Walmart to hide the plastic bucket(recycled Cold Stone ice cream container) which was a perfect fit. The baskets are very versatile for displaying flowers or fruits and can last a long time.

My Mama and Papa taught me how to save money on Christmas decorations by using natural materials found in our surroundings. I grew up in a place in the Philippines where evergreens are a usual sight. Not only did they teach me to save money but also taught me to how be Earth friendly in the process. I learned that you don’t have to splurge on expensive decorations to make your home feel cozy and “Christmassy.”

Now that I am a homemaker, aside from the Christmas tree, little ornaments, re-usable materials and ribbons I haven’t shopped for other Christmas decorations for our home. I used materials that are readily available like the extra branches that we cut off from the Christmas tree. Our neighbor cut a Cedar tree in his yard and I asked if I could get some of the branches and he told me to take as much as I wanted. He was going to dispose of it and it was such a shame to put all those beautiful green branches to waste. I also asked from our friend for some of his Holly branches which were loaded with red ripe berries. I have been told that they are poisonous so if you have a toddler at home, it’s best to keep them away from their reach.

This is the first time I have made a wreath. This is au naturale wreath, I didn’t use a ribbon on it. I think it’s beautiful as it is. Simple and Lovely. I used a wire frame($2.97) from Micheal’s Craft Store. I wanted to make one myself when I saw that natural wreath costs $15 minimum. I enjoyed making this one which took me about 20 minutes. If you don’t have the time, $15 isn’t a bad price because it takes patience and time to make it.

For this wreath, I used 3 different kinds of ribbons. You can have fun making your own wreath. If you have an access to different evergreens. You can put as many different greens as you want. The different textures of the leaves makes it more interesting. I have been looking around ribbons and the best place to buy them is in Micheal’s(check out their $1 crafts), the ribbons where 50% off as long as you are patient enough to buy 2 weeks before Christmas when they go on sale.

The secret “weapons” of making a wreath.

1. sharp garden clipper. I just love to clip, sometimes I get carried away too much and I would prune a bush to it’s base! I don’t know if it’s the clipping sound or the feel of the branch being cut into half so easily in my hands that puts me in a zone. You have to try it yourself! Just make sure it’s your bush you are cutting, hahaha!
2. sharp scissors
3. floral wire ($0.97, from Walmart), floral because they are green
4. floral plastic ties($0.97, from Walmart), these things are just very neat! I didn’t use all of them so I have some left-over for next year.
5. I used Christmas tree “food” for the basket arrangements. I cut up the tablet into four different pieces and placed it in the containers with water. They work pretty well to extend the life of the evergreen arrangements.

I need my husband to go with me in Michaels because I know I can go nuts inside the store! I can’t trust myself and I would spend the whole day in craft wonderland, it’s just amazing to come up with alot of ideas and I may end up getting out with with a cart load of stuff. And no, this post was not in anyway sponsored by Coldstone, Walmart nor Michaels. I thank my neighbor and our friend for the free evergreens from their yards!

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