Whether you're decorating for an office holiday party, sprucing up your tiny apartment, or contributing something new to the family Christmas tree, these 5 adorable recycled paper ornaments are sure to make the season bright. All you'll need are a few easy-to-source materials, including paper right from your recycling bin. Follow along with our 5 simple tutorials and create your own seasonal ornaments in no time. Recycled cardboard (cereal boxes, mailers, boxes, old notebook covers) Colorful recycled papers (we used stationery and maps) Mod Podge or white glue Needle and thread (gold or silver) First create a template Christmas tree shape (it should be symmetrical) on a piece of cardboard or cardstock. Cut it out and then trace the template onto a piece of recycled cardboard. You’ll need two Christmas tree cutouts for each tree ornament. Once the trees are cut out of cardboard, you can start to decorate them. Using a paintbrush, daub Mod Podge (or regular white glue) on each cutout.

We sprinkled half of them with glitter, and pasted on shreds of old maps and stationery onto the other half. If you’re using recycled paper for a decoration, make sure you use another coat of Mod Podge on top to seal it on. Once they dry (about 10-15 minutes), flip the trees over and apply the desired collage or glitter to the other side and dry thoroughly. Get ready to assemble your trees: using scissors or a utility knife, carefully slice a slit into each tree – for each pair of tree cutouts, you’ll need to slice once through the bottom up of one tree, then once from the top down of the second tree so they slot together like puzzle pieces. We used one glitter cutout and one decoupage cutout for each ornament – carefully slide one cutout onto the other, arranging the slits so that the shapes lock together. You can stand the tree ornaments on their own on a mantelpiece or counter, or using a needle and thread, add a hanger, dangle from a Christmas tree or houseplant, and admire.

Last year’s Christmas cards, scrap paper, and junk mail Glue or double-sided tape Create a whimsical, colorful bunting garland to deck your Christmas tree, mantle, or doorway this season. christmas tree decorations color themeAll you’ll need is a handful of Christmas cards to make your decor bright. cheap diy wedding reception centerpiecesFollow along with the whole tutorial here.beach house decor bathroom Read more: DIY: How to make a Terrarium Christmas ornamentwedding decoration ideas south africa

Black and white newsprint from old magazines, books, catalogs Golden thread and needle These simple, whimsical stars will brighten your space for the holidays. diy christmas decorations for living roomFirst, determine the thickness of your paper. christmas tree shop job openingsIf you’re using a catalog or old book, the paper may be thick enough to stand on its own. If the paper seems flimsy, use a glue stick to glue two sheets together and let dry before proceeding. Trace a template of a star onto a piece of old cardstock and cut out. Using a pen or pencil, trace the star shape onto the newsprint. You’ll need two cutouts for each star, so ensure you cut out an even number. Cut a slit into the top of half the stars, and the bottom of the other half of your star cutouts.

Fit the two pieces together, then using a needle and thread, create a thread hanger. Red and gold thread look especially nice with the newsprint. Newsprint, magazines, or old book pages Washi or masking tape Fishing line or string These colorful, rainbow-hued feathers flutter with even the slightest wind. They’ll add a bohemian touch to your Christmas tree, holiday table, or even as part of gift wrapping. You’ll wash translucent, colorful, watercolors over recycled magazines or newsprint. Check out the tutorial here. Read more: 10 Faux Christmas Trees to Green your Holiday What a fun project for all ages. Create an amazing table-top Christmas village, complete with houses, towers, churches, and evergreen trees. All you’ll need to do is save some of the packaging from all those holiday deliveries. Follow along with our easy tutorial here. All photographs by Emily Peckenham for Inhabitat.Creating DIY Christmas tree ornaments is a must! Every year I come up with a new DIY ornament that can be added to my tree.

The last two years have been a Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Tree and Mantel theme. This year I have created an easy DIY terrarium ornament that coordinates perfectly with my tree! You will also want to check out the super fun and easy DIY Ornament Advent Calendar. Each year you can collect new ornaments to slowly add to your tree. I always try to keep a theme for a few years. Everyone always asks me what steps I take in decorating my Christmas Tree. Here are my how-to steps for easy Christmas tree decorating. How to Easily Decorate Your Christmas Tree Separate your tree into sections using burlap or ribbon rolls. I love this method because it makes adding your ornaments way easier when you have sections on the tree. Plus, it allows you to space out your similar ornaments with ease. Use different sizes of ornament balls pushed deep in the tree. Place them next to lights for reflection. Add your large ornaments first. Fill in the holes with smaller ornaments.